1
general::
intend to do something
to have decided that you want to do something at some time in the future:
• He intends to appeal against the decision.
be going to do something
especially spoken to intend to do something – used when you have made definite arrangements to do it:
• We’re going to have a meeting about it next week. • I’m going to start karate lessons.
mean to do something
especially spoken to intend to do something – used especially when you forget to do something or when something does not happen in the way you intended:
• I’ve been meaning to call you for ages. • Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.
plan to do something
to intend to do something – used especially when you have thought carefully about how and when you will do it:
• The airline plans to start flights to Thailand in July. • Jane and Rob are planning to get married next year.
set out to do something
to intend to do something – used when someone is very determined and knows clearly what they want to do:
• He set out to make a movie that would challenge people’s prejudices.
aim to do something
to intend to do something – used when saying what someone hopes to achieve:
• We aim to finish the work by next week. • The film aims to explain global warming and what people can do about it.
propose to do something
formal to intend to do something – used when saying what someone suggests doing:
• How do you propose to deal with the situation?
have somebody/something in mind
to imagine that something is the kind of thing that you want to happen, or that someone is the person you want to choose:
• ‘How about going out for a pizza?’ ‘That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.’ • Who do you have in mind?
have no intention of doing something
to have decided that you will definitely not do something:
• Tom has no intention of retiring just yet. • The government has no intention of lifting the ban.
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