purpose

[ pur-puhs ]

noun

1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.

   Synonyms: target, objective, object, rationale, point

2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination; resoluteness.
4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.
5. practical result, effect, or advantage:

   to act to good purpose.

verb (used with object)

, pur·posed, pur·pos·ing.

1. to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.
2. to intend; design.

   Synonyms: plan, contemplate, mean

3. to resolve (to do something):

   He purposed to change his way of life radically.

verb (used without object)

, pur·posed, pur·pos·ing.

1. to have a purpose.

purpose

/ ˈpɜːpəs /

noun

1. the reason for which anything is done, created, or exists
2. a fixed design, outcome, or idea that is the object of an action or other effort
3. fixed intention in doing something; determination

   a man of purpose

4. practical advantage or use

   to work to good purpose

5. that which is relevant or under consideration (esp in the phrase to or from the purpose )
6. archaic.
   purport
7. on purpose
   on purpose intentionally

verb

1. to intend or determine to do (something)

Other Words From

• pre·purpose verb (used with object) prepurposed prepurposing
• re·purpose verb (used with object) repurposed repurposing
• un·purposed adjective
• un·purpos·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of purpose¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English purpos, from Old French, derivative of purposer, variant of proposer “to propose ”; (verb) Middle English purposen, from Anglo-French, Old French purposer

Word History and Origins

Origin of purpose¹

C13: from Old French porpos, from porposer to plan, from Latin prōpōnere to propose

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on purpose, by design; intentionally:

   How could you do such a thing on purpose?

2. to the purpose, relevant; to the point:

   Her objections were not to the purpose.

More idioms and phrases containing purpose

see at cross purposes ; for all intents and purposes ; on purpose ; serve a purpose ; to good purpose ; to little or no purpose .

Synonym Study

See intention.

Example Sentences

Together the two men had formed Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company, earlier in 2020.

From TechCrunch

Another purpose of these meetings is to build working relationships so when strategic decisions need to be made, board members are used to working together.

From TechCrunch

The images are — first of all, they’re real, it’s not manufactured, but they are put together in a way that adds, on purpose, to the drama of it.

From Washington Post

If in a particular context it becomes a symbol of divisiveness, and has a potential for doing harm to the overall well-being of the university community, I believe it serves no purpose for it to be played.

From Washington Post

Working remotely —especially for those execs who have never done it before — can also impact your purpose said Mertens.

From Digiday

By setting no goals, the player must find their own purpose.

From The Daily Beast

They were born in 51 countries and speak 59 foreign languages, but they seemed bound by a single purpose and resolve.

From The Daily Beast

But Seligman never imagined how Mitchell might put the concept to work, in part because it was so ill-suited to that purpose.

From The Daily Beast

The whole purpose of the gang is to generate money for its incarcerated leaders.

From The Daily Beast

We are gathered for one reason and one reason alone—to raise money to help fulfill that dream and that purpose.

From The Daily Beast

Some were even re-arrested for the same nefarious purpose, and the daily papers published their names on each occasion.

From Project Gutenberg

I called out several times, as loud as I could raise my voice, but all to no purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

The emperor Nicholas of Russia declared, by ukase, his purpose to assist Austria.

From Project Gutenberg

For the purpose of ascertaining the Board's powers in this connection the opinion of the Attorney General has been requested.

From Project Gutenberg

The culture of expression is a very different thing from the artful imitation of the signs of feeling and purpose.

From Project Gutenberg