purposeful
Americanadjective
-
having a definite purpose in view
-
fixed in one's purpose; determined
Usage
Purposefully is sometimes wrongly used where purposely is meant: he had purposely (not purposefully ) left the door unlocked
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of purposeful
Explanation
Something purposeful is done on purpose: it's meant to achieve an aim. Lots of things happen accidentally or randomly, but other things have a purpose. Such things can be called purposeful. Going to college, starting a family, giving to a charity, and adopting a dog are all purposeful acts. People have a reason for doing them, and they want to accomplish something specific. Purposeful things are thought-out and intentional.
Vocabulary lists containing purposeful
Unit 1: Telling Details
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myPerspectives 8.3
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"A Village After Dark" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The country's official motto for 2026 is "Independent neutral Turkmenistan is the homeland of purposeful winged horses".
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
The fact that that was so purposeful, that I understood so deeply what it was to be a patient, what it was to be terrified going into the emergency department.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
“This acquisition marks another important milestone in Henkel’s purposeful growth agenda and further expands hair care as a core category within its consumer brands business,” it said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
A small share of companies offer a sabbatical — a long, purposeful break from work that generally lasts between six weeks and a year.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026
The man got up early and cooked his breakfast, still on a fire out in front of the house; he was quick and purposeful.
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
