# intention

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪnˈtɛnʃn̩/ · frequency rank #4,095

## Definitions
1. A course of action that a person intends to follow.
2. The goal or purpose.
3. Tension; straining, stretching.
4. A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object or a purpose (an intent); closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
5. The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.
6. Any mental apprehension of an object.
7. The process of the healing of a wound.

## Etymology
From Middle English entencioun, intention, from Old French entencion, from Latin intentiō, intentiōnem. Compare intent. Equivalent to intent + -ion.

## Easily confused with
- **invention** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intention-vs-invention)
- **intuition** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intention-vs-intuition)
- **intentions** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intention-vs-intentions)
- **intonation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intention-vs-intonation)
- **intentional** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intention-vs-intentional)
- **intentioned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intention-vs-intentioned)
- **infection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infection-vs-intention)
- **injection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/injection-vs-intention)
- **inception** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inception-vs-intention)
- **insertion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insertion-vs-intention)
- **ingestion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ingestion-vs-intention)

## Common misspellings (14)
`inetntion`, `inntention`, `inteniton`, `intenntion`, `intension`, `intentino`, `intentionn`, `intentoin`, `intenttion`, `intetnion`, `intnetion`, `inttention`, `itnention`, `nitention`

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