Intend vs. Want — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 2, 2024
Intend focuses on plans or objectives, signaling purpose, while want expresses desires or wishes, emphasizing personal feelings.
Difference Between Intend and Want
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
When you intend to do something, it implies a deliberate plan or decision aimed at achieving a specific outcome. Whereas, wanting something is more about having a desire or wish for it, regardless of whether there's a plan to obtain it.
Intending something often involves a certain commitment or preparation towards an action. On the other hand, wanting can exist without any steps being taken towards realization.
People generally use "intend" when they are talking about actions that are likely to be followed through. Whereas, "want" can be used for fleeting desires that may not lead to action.
In formal contexts, "intend" is more commonly used as it suggests determination and purpose. Want, however, is more casual and broad, commonly appearing in everyday conversations.
Intend is often connected with responsibilities and obligations, while want is more associated with personal satisfaction and enjoyment.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To have a course of action as one's purpose.
To have a desire to possess or do something.
Commitment Level
High, implies a plan or decision.
Low, may not include a plan.
Formality
More formal, used in serious or planned contexts.
Less formal, widely used in everyday language.
Associated with
Responsibilities, obligations.
Personal desires, wishes.
Likelihood of Action
Likely to result in action.
May not necessarily lead to action.
Compare with Definitions
Intend
To signify or mean something.
By saying that, he intended no harm.
Want
To desire something.
I want a new bike for my birthday.
Intend
To plan something with a purpose in mind.
I intend to finish this project by next week.
Want
To lack something.
This recipe wants a pinch of salt.
Intend
To aim or design for a particular purpose.
This scheme is intended to attract more customers.
Want
To wish for something.
They want to travel around the world.
Intend
To denote something planned or foreseen.
The law was intended to increase transparency.
Want
To need something.
You'll want a warm coat for the winter.
Intend
To have a particular idea or plan when doing something.
She intends to pursue a degree in biology.
Want
To require something.
The job wants three years of experience.
Intend
To have in mind; plan
We intend to go. They intend going. I intended that you would go as well.
Want
The idea of want can be examined from many perspectives. In secular societies want might be considered similar to the emotion desire, which can be studied scientifically through the disciplines of psychology or sociology.
Intend
To design for a specific purpose
A whisk is intended to beat eggs.
Want
Have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for
We want to go to the beach
She wanted me to leave
I'll give you a lift into town if you want
I want an apple
Intend
To have in mind for a particular use
I intended the flowers as a present to her.
Want
Should or need to do something
You don't want to believe everything you hear
Intend
To signify or mean
What did he intend by that remark?.
Want
Lack something desirable or essential
You shall want for nothing while you are with me
Intend
To have a design or purpose in mind.
Want
A lack or deficiency of something
For want of a better location we ate our picnic in the cemetery
Victorian houses which are in want of repair
Intend
To fix the mind upon (something, or something to be accomplished); be intent upon
He intends to go to university.
They evidently intended some mischief.
Want
A desire for something
The expression of our wants and desires
Intend
To fix the mind on; attend to; take care of; superintend; regard.
Want
To have a strong feeling to have (something); wish (to possess or do something); desire greatly
She wants a glass of water. They want to leave.
Intend
(obsolete) To stretch to extend; distend.
Want
To desire (someone to do something)
I want you to clean your room.
Intend
To strain; make tense.
Want
To request the presence or assistance of
You are wanted by your office.
Intend
(obsolete) To intensify; strengthen.
Want
To seek with intent to capture
The fugitive is wanted by the police.
Intend
To apply with energy.
Want
To have an inclination toward; like
Say what you want, but be tactful.
Intend
To bend or turn; direct, as one’s course or journey.
Want
(Informal) To be obliged (to do something)
You want to be careful on the ice.
Intend
To design mechanically or artistically; fashion; mold.
Want
To be in need of; require
"'Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter" (Lewis Carroll).
Intend
To pretend; counterfeit; simulate.
Want
To be without; lack.
Intend
To stretch; to extend; to distend.
By this the lungs are intended or remitted.
Want
To be inclined or desirous; wish
Call me daily if you want.
Intend
To strain; to make tense.
When a bow is successively intended and remedied.
Want
The condition or quality of lacking something usual or necessary
Stayed home for want of anything better to do.
Intend
To intensify; to strengthen.
Magnetism may be intended and remitted.
Want
Pressing need; destitution
Lives in want.
Intend
To apply with energy.
Let him intend his mind, without respite, without rest, in one direction.
Want
Something desired
A person of few wants and needs.
Intend
To bend or turn; to direct, as one's course or journey.
Want
A defect of character; a fault.
Intend
To fix the mind on; to attend to; to take care of; to superintend; to regard.
Having no children, she did, with singular care and tenderness, intend the education of Philip.
My soul, not being able to intend two things at once, abated of its fervency in praying.
Want
(transitive) To wish for or desire (something); to feel a need or desire for; to crave or demand.
What do you want to eat?
I want you to leave.
Never wanted to go back to live with my mother.
Intend
To fix the mind upon (something to be accomplished); to be intent upon; to mean; to design; to plan; to purpose; - often followed by an infinitely with to, or a dependent clause with that; as, he intends to go; he intends that she shall remain.
They intended evil against thee.
To-morrow he intendsTo hunt the boar with certain of his friends.
Want
(by extension) To make it easy or tempting to do something undesirable, or to make it hard or challenging to refrain from doing it.
The game developers of Candy Crush want you to waste large, copious amounts of your money on in-game purchases to buy boosters and lives.
Depression wants you to feel like the world is dark and that you are not worthy of happiness. The first step to making your life better from this day forward is to stop believing these lies.
Intend
To design mechanically or artistically; to fashion; to mold.
Modesty was madeWhen she was first intended.
Want
To wish, desire, or demand to see, have the presence of or do business with.
Ma’am, you are exactly the professional we want for this job.
Danish police want him for embezzlement.
Intend
To pretend; to counterfeit; to simulate.
Intend a kind of zeal both to the prince and Claudio.
Want
(intransitive) To desire (to experience desire); to wish.
You can leave if you want.
Intend
Have in mind as a purpose;
I mean no harm
I only meant to help you
She didn't think to harm me
We thought to return early that night
Want
To lack and be in need of or require (something, such as a noun or verbal noun).
That chair wants fixing.
Intend
Design or destine;
She was intended to become the director
Want
To have occasion for (something requisite or useful); to require or need.
Intend
Mean or intend to express or convey;
You never understand what I mean!
What do his words intend?
Want
To be lacking or deficient or absent.
There was something wanting in the play.
Intend
Denote or connote;
`maison' means `house' in French
An example sentence would show what this word means
Want
To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
The paupers desperately want.
Want
To lack and be without, to not have (something).
She wanted anything she needed.
Want
To lack and (be able to) do without.
Want
(countable) A desire, wish, longing.
Want
Lack, absence, deficiency.
A want of sense.
Want
(uncountable) Poverty.
Want
Something needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt.
Want
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
Want
(dialectal) A mole (Talpa europea).
Want
The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing.
And me, his parent, would full soon devourFor want of other prey.
From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we often feel wants in consequence of our wishes.
Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy.
Want
Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution; poverty; penury; indigence; need.
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches, as to conceive how others can be in want.
Want
That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use or pleasure.
Habitual superfluities become actual wants.
Want
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
Want
To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to have; to lack; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing.
They that want honesty, want anything.
Nor think, though men were none,That heaven would want spectators, God want praise.
The unhappy never want enemies.
Want
To have occasion for, as useful, proper, or requisite; to require; to need; as, in winter we want a fire; in summer we want cooling breezes.
Want
To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave.
I want to speak to you about something.
Want
To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; - often used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of four.
The disposition, the manners, and the thoughts are all before it; where any of those are wanting or imperfect, so much wants or is imperfect in the imitation of human life.
Want
To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
You have a gift, sir (thank your education),Will never let you want.
For as in bodies, thus in souls, we findWhat wants in blood and spirits, swelled with wind.
Want
A state of extreme poverty
Want
The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable;
There is a serious lack of insight into the problem
Water is the critical deficiency in desert regions
For want of a nail the shoe was lost
Want
Anything that is necessary but lacking;
He had sufficient means to meet his simple needs
I tried to supply his wants
Want
A specific feeling of desire;
He got his wish
He was above all wishing and desire
Want
Feel or have a desire for; want strongly;
I want to go home now
I want my own room
Want
Have need of;
This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner
Want
Wish or demand the presence of;
I want you here at noon!
Want
Hunt or look for; want for a particular reason;
Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI
Uncle Sam wants you
Want
Be without, lack; be deficient in;
Want courtesy
Want the strength to go on living
Flood victims wanting food and shelter
Common Curiosities
What is a formal scenario of using "intend"?
Intend is often used in business or legal contexts, where clear intentions and plans are discussed.
How can wanting something lead to intending it?
A strong desire (want) can sometimes develop into a plan or decision to achieve it (intend).
What does it mean to intend something?
It means planning or deciding to do something with a specific purpose in mind.
Can "intend" and "want" be used interchangeably?
Not usually, as intend involves plans and commitment, whereas want centers on desires.
What grammatical forms do "intend" and "want" take?
Both "intend" and "want" are verbs that can be used in various tenses depending on the context, though "intend" often appears with an infinitive (to do something).
What psychological implications does using "intend" have over "want"?
Using "intend" might indicate a higher level of psychological commitment to an action, reflecting determination and responsibility.
Why might someone use "want" rather than "intend"?
"Want" is used when expressing desires that are not necessarily backed by plans or commitments, making it suitable for casual or less definitive expressions.
In what situations is it inappropriate to use "want"?
In formal or professional settings, "want" may seem too casual or vague, especially when clarity and commitment are required.
How do cultural differences impact the use of "intend" and "want"?
Cultural nuances can affect the perception of these terms, with some cultures placing more emphasis on intent and commitment versus desire.
Is "want" always less serious than "intend"?
Typically, yes, because want does not necessarily involve planning or commitment.
How does the frequency of use in language compare between "intend" and "want"?
"Want" is generally used more frequently in everyday language due to its broader application in expressing desires, while "intend" is more specific and thus less common.
Can "intend" imply future actions more strongly than "want"?
Yes, "intend" more strongly implies future actions as it is associated with planned and deliberate steps toward an outcome.
How does intent relate to achieving goals?
Intent is directly tied to goal achievement as it involves planning and commitment to reach a specified objective.
How do the consequences of not fulfilling an intention compare to not fulfilling a want?
Not fulfilling an intention can lead to more significant consequences, especially in formal or planned contexts, as opposed to not satisfying a want, which typically has less impact.
Are there any synonyms that can replace "intend" or "want" without changing the meaning?
Synonyms for "intend" include plan, aim, or propose, while "want" can be replaced with desire, wish, or crave, though slight nuances in meaning may occur.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
