Cool MateIntended vs Supposed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Intended
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Supposed
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: Supposed
| Intended | Supposed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtendɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtendɪd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //səˈpəʊzd//🇺🇸 //səˈpoʊzd// |
| Meaning | planned or meant to happen | Expected or thought to be true. |
| Example | The intended audience for this book is young adults. | He was supposed to arrive by noon but is still not here. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | intended audience, intended outcome, intended meaning | supposed to be, is supposed to, was supposed to, supposed outcome, supposed purpose |
| Antonyms | unintended, accidental | unfounded, unverified |
| Common mistakes | 'Intended' is often confused with 'intentioned', which is incorrect., Learners may forget to use 'intended' with an object, like 'intended purpose'., Sometimes 'intended' is mistakenly used as a noun. | Confused with 'suppose', which is the verb form., Misused in past tense contexts where 'was supposed to' is needed., Used incorrectly as an adverb, such as 'supposedly'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'intended' when talking about plans or purposes. It’s neutral, so it’s suitable for most contexts, but avoid using it in very casual conversations. | Use 'supposed' to express expectations or beliefs. It is suitable in both spoken and written contexts but may sound informal in some formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Intended vs Supposed
What's the difference between Intended and Supposed?
Intended: planned or meant to happen Supposed: Expected or thought to be true.
Which is more common: Intended and Supposed?
Supposed is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Intended: The intended audience for this book is young adults. Supposed: He was supposed to arrive by noon but is still not here.
Can I use Intended and Supposed interchangeably?
Not always. Intended and Supposed are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.