# intending

/ˌɪnˈtɛndɪŋ/ (US) · /ɪntˈɛndɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intending
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. planning to do something

verb · CEFR B1

the action of having a plan or purpose in mind.

For teachers: the present participle of 'intend', expressing a current state of planning or purpose.

- We are intending to move to a larger house next summer.
- The government is intending to reform the tax code by the end of the current fiscal year to encourage investment.

### 2. prospective or future

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

planning to be a particular type of person or to start a specific role.

For teachers: functioning as an attributive adjective to describe a person who plans to enter a specific role or state.

- The university held an open day for intending students and their families.
- The handbook provides essential guidance for intending parents considering the legal complexities of international adoption.

Usage: Always placed before the noun it modifies.

### 3. the act of having a purpose

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

the mental process of forming an intention or a plan.

For teachers: the gerund form used to describe the cognitive or philosophical process of directed purpose.

- The philosopher discussed the difference between intending and actually acting.
- In phenomenology, the act of intending is central to how consciousness relates to objects in the world.

## Examples

- The intending buyer visited the house twice.
- The seminar is designed for intending teachers who want to learn about modern classroom management.
- The legislation aims to protect intending immigrants from predatory legal fees by mandating transparent pricing structures for all consultancy services.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.