likely intention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likely intention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the probable purpose or aim behind someone's actions or statements. Example: "Based on the evidence presented, we can infer the likely intention behind her decision to resign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

He might also have mentioned that the legal presumption underlying the determination of that likely intention is sexist, based on where one's father was born.

The Guardian

"The governor has made it clear that his most likely intention is that he will run again," his spokesman, Michael McKeon, said this afternoon.

The New York Times

A more likely intention is to send the Islamists a message and establish a buffer zone along the Kenyan border that would be controlled by friendly Somali forces, including thousands of government troops trained in Kenya.

The Guardian

This isn't the first event coordinated by fake Facebook accounts with the likely intention of further polarizing U.S. voters.

TechCrunch

For example, key stakeholders from a cloud computing service provider such as the account manager and senior manager collaborate with their specific customers, and investigate if the latter are satisfied with their cloud services and further inquire for likely intention to purchase additional cloud services.

Journal of Cloud Computing

However, the context in which the grip was performed indicated whether the use interpretation was the correct one (Figure 1, A2, U) or whether the most likely intention of the agent was that of moving the object towards another position (Figure 1, A2, T).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Even Mr. Kallberg was flummoxed, studying it repeatedly over 20 years before finally unraveling the composer's likely intentions.

The New York Times - Arts

Mixed US economic data, including unchanged industrial production in May and disappointing consumer sentiment figures, gave little clue to the Fed's likely intentions.

The Guardian - Business

This misstates North Korea's likely intentions for and the actual impact of its missile and nuclear programs.

Huffington Post

Generally, the more favourable the attitudes, the stronger subjective norms and the greater the perceived behavioural control, the more likely intentions in favour of the behaviour are built.

BMC Health Services Research

Similarly, in the Dutch context it is likely that intention to breastfeed is associated with the intention to have a home-birth as opposed to a hospital birth.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing future actions or strategies, using "likely intention" can help set expectations without implying absolute certainty. This allows for flexibility if circumstances change.

Common error

Avoid using "likely intention" when a definitive plan is already in place. Reserve it for situations where the purpose is probable but not yet finalized, as overstating may undermine the actual plan.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely intention" functions as a noun phrase modifier, specifying the nature of an intention as being probable or expected rather than certain. This usage is supported by Ludwig, which shows the phrase appearing in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "likely intention" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a probable purpose or aim. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across diverse fields like news, science, and formal communication. While not overly frequent, its usage is well-established. When employing this phrase, it's advisable to strike a balance between conveying expectation and recognizing potential for change. Alternatives such as "probable aim" or "expected purpose" offer similar meanings, ensuring clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probable aim

Emphasizes the goal that is expected or predicted, substituting "intention" with "aim" and "likely" with "probable".

expected purpose

Focuses on the anticipated reason or function, replacing "intention" with "purpose" and "likely" with "expected".

reasonable objective

Highlights the rationality and goal-oriented nature of the intention, using "objective" instead of "intention" and "reasonable" instead of "likely".

anticipated goal

Stresses the prediction of achieving a specific outcome, using "goal" in place of "intention" and "anticipated" instead of "likely".

presumed objective

Suggests an assumption about the goal, replacing "likely" with "presumed" and "intention" with "objective".

potential motive

Emphasizes the underlying reason for action, swapping "intention" for "motive" and "likely" for "potential".

credible design

Focuses on the believability of the plan, using "design" instead of "intention" and "credible" in place of "likely".

plausible plan

Highlights the feasibility of the scheme, substituting "intention" with "plan" and "likely" with "plausible".

foreseeable objective

Focuses on something possible to predict, exchanging intention for objective, and likely for foreseeable

possible motive

Focuses on a motive that is only possible to happen, exchanging intention for motive, and likely for possible

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "likely intention"?

Alternatives include "probable aim", "expected purpose", or "anticipated goal", depending on the specific context.

How does "likely intention" differ from "definite plan"?

"Likely intention" suggests a probable but not finalized purpose, whereas "definite plan" implies a firm, established course of action. The former allows for flexibility; the latter does not.

Is "likely intention" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "likely intention" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when discussing strategic goals or anticipated outcomes that are not yet fully determined. However, be cautious not to overuse the phrase, as this can create the impression that you are uncertain.

Can "likely intention" be used in the past tense?

Yes, you can use "likely intention" in the past tense to describe what was believed to be someone's purpose at a specific time. For example: "At that moment, his likely intention was to escape prosecution."