[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/intention/)

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# intention

noun (an intention, intentions)

«intention» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. What you plan or mean to do: your aim or purpose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#m1)
2. (law, ethics) What you meant to happen: in ethics and law it matters whether harm was done on purpose or by accident. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#m2)
3. (church) A special purpose or person that a prayer or Mass is offered for: «Mass for the intentions of…». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#m3)
4. (old-fashioned) «His intentions» can mean whether a man plans to marry someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#m4)

### In the lessons

In ethics lessons pupils weigh intentions against consequences: «She meant well.» In school a teacher may share a «learning intention» (what pupils will learn). In stories a character's good or bad intentions drive the plot. Phrases: «good intentions», «with the intention of», «have no intention of», «learning intention», «the road to hell is paved with good intentions».

### Examples

- My intention was to help, not to make a mess. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x1)
- I have no intention of going to bed early! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x2)
- She went to the shop with the intention of buying bread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x3)
- Our learning intention today is to add fractions. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x4)
- He had good intentions but forgot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x5)
- The priest offered the Mass for the intentions of the sick. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x6)
- The judge asked about the man's intention. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x7)
- The best intentions will not always ensure success. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/#x8)

### Note

Countable. Verb: intend; adjective: intentional (on purpose); adverb: intentionally. «Have no intention of + -ing», not «to». Similar: aim, plan, purpose.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «intention» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/intention/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«intention» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/intention.html) on Mova free.