on purpose
Idioms-
Deliberately, intentionally, as in He left the photo out of the story on purpose . Shakespeare's use of this idiom was among the earliest; it appears in The Comedy of Errors (4:3): “On purpose shut the doors against his way.”
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accidentally on purpose . Seemingly accidentally but actually deliberately, as in She stepped on his foot accidentally on purpose . This generally jocular phrase was first recorded in 1862.
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.
"Socially I can be very awkward – not on purpose – but when it comes to football, I'm really open and happy," he says.
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
Others theorized that Epstein was spelling incorrectly on purpose.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
If a professional boxer loses a fight on purpose, it’s called a “dive” or “tanking” and it is illegal.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026
If you’re trying to get excited about vegetables, give yourself permission to make them delicious on purpose.
From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026
“What do you mean? That I didn’t come over on purpose or something?”
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
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.
