in ‧ ten ‧ tion S3 W2 /ɪnˈtenʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Word Family: adjective : intended ≠ UNINTENDED , ↑ intentional ≠ ↑ unintentional , ↑ intent ; noun : ↑ intent , ↑ intention ; verb : ↑ intend ; adverb : ↑ intentionally ≠ ↑ unintentionally ]
a plan or desire to do something ⇨ intend
have no/every intention of doing something
I have no intention of retiring just yet.
They went into town with the intention of visiting the library.
intention to do something
It is our intention to be the number one distributor of health products.
good intentions/the best (of) intentions (=intentions to do something good or kind, especially when you do not succeed in doing it)
He thinks the minister is full of good intentions that won’t be carried out.
► Do not say that someone ‘has no intention to do something’. Say that someone has no intention of doing something .
⇨ ↑ well-intentioned
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THESAURUS
▪ purpose the reason you do something, and the thing you want to achieve when you do it:
What is the purpose of your visit to England?
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The plant is used for medicinal purposes.
▪ aim what you want to achieve when you do something:
The main aims of the project are as follows.
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Their ultimate aim is to find a cure for cancer.
▪ goal something that you hope to achieve in the future, even though this may take a long time:
It took Mandela over forty years to achieve his goal of a democratic South Africa.
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the goal of ending child poverty
▪ objective something that you are working hard to achieve, especially in business or politics:
The bank achieved its objective of increasing its share of the market.
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The government’s long-term objective is to cut CO2 emissions by 50%.
▪ the object of something formal the specific purpose of an activity:
The object of the game is to get as many points as possible.
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The students will benefit, and that must be the object of the exercise (=the main thing that you are trying to do) .
▪ the point the purpose of doing something and the reason why it is right or necessary:
At fourteen, I couldn’t see the point of going to school.
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What’s the point in waiting? (=I don’t think it is useful or necessary)
▪ intention the purpose that you have in your mind when you do something:
He kept his real intentions well hidden.
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Although we made a lot of money, this wasn’t our original intention.
▪ ends the result that someone is trying to achieve – used especially when you disapprove of what someone is doing:
They are using religion for political ends.
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The ends do not justify the means (=you should not use violence, cruelty, dishonest behaviour etc to achieve your aims) .