intentions

IPA/ɪnˈten.ʃən/
KK[ˌɪntˈɛntʃənz]IPA/ɪnˈten.ʃən/

intentions — noun

  • intentionssingular
  • intentionsesplural

1. A person's intentions are the specific results they hope to achieve or the plans

1.nounB1
Definition

A person's intentions are the specific results they hope to achieve or the plans they have in mind before taking action. Your intentions explain why you choose to do something in a particular situation — they are the real purpose behind a decision, not just a vague wish.

Example

Beatrix announced her intentions to run for a seat on the city council next spring.

intentions + to-infinitive for planned goals

The company made its intentions clear by announcing the factory would close in March.

collocation: make one's intentions clear

Common collocations
  • make one's intentions clear
  • make one's intentions known
  • announce one's intentions
  • declare one's intentions
  • have every intention of
  • good intentions
  • best intentions
  • bad intentions
  • true intentions
  • real intentions
  • question someone's intentions
  • understand someone's intentions
  • intentions of + -ing
Synonyms
  • plans

    more concrete and specific about the steps involved, rather than the underlying purpose

  • aims

    focuses on the target or desired outcome rather than the thought behind it

  • purposes

    emphasizes the reason something is done, slightly more formal than 'intentions'

  • goals

    stresses a clear, desired end result that someone works toward over time

Grammar Patterns

have no intention of + -ing

with the intention of + -ing

make one's intentions clear/known

announce/declare one's intentions

good/best intentions

Usage Note

Although this entry treats 'intentions' as a plural noun, the fixed expressions 'have no intention of' and 'with the intention of' use the singular form 'intention'. These are the most common patterns in everyday English and are not a mistake — the singular form in these cases is an uncountable use meaning 'the state of intending'.

Common Mistakes

My intention is study abroad next year.
My intention is to study abroad next year.
'intention' requires 'to' before the verb when followed by a plan or goal.
He had no intentions of hurting her.
He had no intention of hurting her.
in the fixed negative expression 'no intention of', the singular form is standard, not the plural.

2. A person's serious plans regarding marriage — used to ask or talk about whether

2.nounB2
Definition

A person's serious plans regarding marriage — used to ask or talk about whether someone wants to propose to their romantic partner or make a long-term commitment. This sense is almost always used in questions about someone's relationship goals, especially when family or friends are evaluating the seriousness of a relationship.

Example

Christopher's parents asked him directly about his intentions toward their daughter.

collocation: intentions toward [person] in romantic context

After two years of dating, Rania's friends started asking whether her boyfriend had serious intentions.

Common collocations
  • intentions toward/towards
  • serious intentions
  • honorable/honourable intentions
  • true intentions
  • what are his/her intentions
  • declare one's intentions
  • question someone's intentions
Synonyms
  • marriage plans

    more direct and concrete, less commonly used in casual conversation than 'intentions'

  • commitment goals

    modern and informal, often used in dating contexts instead of the traditional phrase

Grammar Patterns

his/her/their intentions toward/towards [person]

what are his/her intentions?

serious intentions

honorable intentions

declare one's intentions

Usage Note

This sense almost always appears in the form 'his/her/their intentions' with a possessive. The most common question is 'What are his/her intentions?' asked by relatives or friends who want to know whether someone plans to marry their partner. 'Honorable intentions' is a slightly old-fashioned phrase suggesting the person's romantic plans are respectful and sincere.

Common Mistakes

I asked him about his intention.
I asked him about his intentions.
in the romantic/marriage sense, the plural form is standard, not the singular.
Idioms

the road to hell is paved with good intentions

idiom

A proverb meaning that simply having good plans or good purposes is not enough — if a person never acts on those plans, their failure to follow through can lead to negative or harmful consequences.

Tanvi wanted to volunteer at the shelter every month, but she kept putting it off. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, as they say.

I told myself I would start saving money this year, but I spent everything on eating out. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These five words all describe something a person wants to achieve, but they differ in how specific and how action-oriented they are. 'Intention' focuses on the thought or purpose behind an action — what you have in mind when you do something. 'Plan' is more concrete and detailed, involving specific steps (e.g., 'She has a plan to save money by cooking at home'). 'Aim' suggests a target you are trying to hit, often quite specific ('His aim was to finish the report by Friday'). 'Goal' implies a desired end result that may take time and effort to reach ('Her goal is to become a doctor'). 'Purpose' emphasizes the reason something exists or is done ('The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the new team'). In everyday conversation, 'intention' is best when talking about the thinking behind an action, 'plan' when there are actual steps, and 'goal' when the result is long-term.

intentions ↗plans ↗aims ↗goals ↗purposes ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with the intention of
  • have every intention of
  • have no intention of
  • what are your intentions
  • make one's intentions clear
  • make one's intentions known

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'intention' entered English from Old French 'intention', which came from Latin 'intentio' — meaning 'a stretching out, a purpose, an attention'. The Latin verb 'intendere' meant 'to stretch toward, aim at', combining 'in-' (toward) and 'tendere' (to stretch). This literal sense of 'stretching the mind toward something' evolved into the modern meaning of having a plan or purpose in mind. The plural form 'intentions', which is the headword here, became the standard form when referring to a person's overall plans or aims.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2