purposely
Americanadverb
-
intentionally; deliberately.
He tripped me purposely.
-
with the particular purpose specified; expressly.
I wore that suit purposely to make a good impression.
adverb
Usage
What does purposely mean? Purposely is used to describe an action done intentionally, deliberately, or for a specific reason. The word purposefully means in a determined way or in a way that’s full of purpose. It should not be used to mean intentionally or deliberately. Example: I show up late to parties purposely so I’m not the first one there.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of purposely
Compare meaning
How does purposely compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
He often purposely selected quotations in opposition to one another, creating a dialectic through which his son could come to his own conclusions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
It is not known if Healey was purposely targeted, but the newspaper reported that the flight's path was visible on aircraft tracking websites.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
But the videos are purposely lower production value than a traditional ad.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Then he purposely crash-landed into Ketron Island on Puget Sound.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
She could see that Deirdre was self-conscious too, but that she purposely walked in a way that made her striped skirt twirl and flutter.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
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.
