purpose

[ pur-puhs ]

See synonyms for: purpose purposed purposes on Thesaurus.com

noun

the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.

determination; resoluteness.
the subject in hand; the point at issue.
practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.

verb (used with object),pur·posed, pur·pos·ing.

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

to resolve (to do something): He purposed to change his way of life radically.

verb (used without object),pur·posed, pur·pos·ing.

to have a purpose.

Idioms about purpose

on purpose, by design; intentionally: How could you do such a thing on purpose?
to the purpose, relevant; to the point: Her objections were not to the purpose.

Origin of purpose

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

synonym study For purpose

1. See intention.

Other words for purpose

1	point, rationale
2	object, objective, target
7	mean, contemplate, plan

See synonyms for purpose on Thesaurus.com

Other words from purpose

pre·pur·pose, verb (used with object), pre·pur·posed, pre·pur·pos·ing.
re·pur·pose, verb (used with object), re·pur·posed, re·pur·pos·ing.
un·pur·posed, adjective
un·pur·pos·ing, adjective

Words Nearby purpose

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use purpose in a sentence

Together the two men had formed Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company, earlier in 2020.
With a reported deal in the wings for Joby Aviation, electric aircraft soars to $10B business | Jonathan Shieber | February 12, 2021 | 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.
Best practices for Zoom board meetings at early-stage startups | Walter Thompson | February 12, 2021 | 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.
Republican senators show emotion, but little evidence of changed minds | Seung Min Kim, Karoun Demirjian | February 11, 2021 | 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.
Mavericks’ Mark Cuban isn’t the first to try to stop playing the national anthem | Matt Bonesteel | February 10, 2021 | Washington Post
Working remotely —especially for those execs who have never done it before — can also impact your purpose said Mertens.
‘We’re building the plane while flying’: AB InBev’s in-house team plans structural changes as it takes on more work | Seb Joseph | February 10, 2021 | Digiday

By setting no goals, the player must find their own purpose.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art | Alec Kubas-Meyer | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
They were born in 51 countries and speak 59 foreign languages, but they seemed bound by a single purpose and resolve.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation | Michael Daly | December 30, 2014 | 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.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built | Michael Daly | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The whole purpose of the gang is to generate money for its incarcerated leaders.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs | Seth Ferranti | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
We are gathered for one reason and one reason alone—to raise money to help fulfill that dream and that purpose.
How Richard Pryor Beat Bill Cosby and Transformed America | David Yaffe, Scott Saul | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Some were even re-arrested for the same nefarious purpose, and the daily papers published their names on each occasion.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
I called out several times, as loud as I could raise my voice, but all to no purpose.
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift
The emperor Nicholas of Russia declared, by ukase, his purpose to assist Austria.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
For the purpose of ascertaining the Board's powers in this connection the opinion of the Attorney General has been requested.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur Phillips
The culture of expression is a very different thing from the artful imitation of the signs of feeling and purpose.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge Southwick

British Dictionary definitions for purpose

purpose

/ (ˈpɜːpəs) /

noun

the reason for which anything is done, created, or exists
a fixed design, outcome, or idea that is the object of an action or other effort

fixed intention in doing something; determination: a man of purpose
practical advantage or use: to work to good purpose
that which is relevant or under consideration (esp in the phrase to or from the purpose)
archaic purport
on purpose intentionally

verb(tr)

to intend or determine to do (something)

Origin of purpose

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with purpose

purpose

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

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