# intend

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈtɛnd/ · frequency rank #6,152

## Definitions
1. To fix the mind upon (something, or something to be accomplished); be intent upon
2. To fix the mind on; attend to; take care of; superintend; regard.
3. To stretch to extend; distend.
4. To strain; make tense.
5. To intensify; strengthen.
6. To apply with energy.
7. To bend or turn; direct, as one’s course or journey.
8. To design mechanically or artistically; fashion; mold.
9. To pretend; counterfeit; simulate.

## Etymology
From Middle English intenden, entenden (“direct (one’s) attention towards”), borrowed from Old French entendre, from Latin intendō, intendere. See also intensive. Doublet of entendre.
Largely displaced native Old English myntan (“to mean, intend; to think, suppose”), whence dialectal mint.

## Easily confused with
- **intent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intend-vs-intent)
- **intern** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intend-vs-intern)
- **invent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intend-vs-invent)
- **intense** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intend-vs-intense)
- **intended** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intend-vs-intended)
- **intel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intel-vs-intend)
- **inked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inked-vs-intend)
- **indeed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/indeed-vs-intend)
- **inland** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inland-vs-intend)
- **instead** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instead-vs-intend)

## Common misspellings (9)
`inetnd`, `inntend`, `intedn`, `intendd`, `intennd`, `intned`, `inttend`, `itnend`, `nitend`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/intend