purpose

[ pur-puhs ]

/ ˈpɜr pəs /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR purpose

1 point, rationale.

2 object, objective, target.

7 mean, contemplate, plan.

See synonyms for purpose on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 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, adjectiveun·pur·pos·ing, adjective

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

How to use purpose in a sentence

The responses show how rare it is for teachers to use insects in their classrooms and the small number of insect species they select for this purpose.
Insects can be the ultimate teaching tool for kids|By Kawahara, Ennes & Markee/The Conversation|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
The beauty of a compilation usually lies in the way it can refashion a band's narrative by sequencing songs into something resembling a coherent statement of purpose.
Almost anarchy: The Style Council and the smooth sounds of sophisti-pop|Mina Tavakoli|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
I would help you, but of course that would defeat the purpose of protecting ourselves from spreading germs.
Miss Manners: Polite alternatives to ‘Pull your mask up, bozo!’|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
As of last month, the remaining $259 billion still has not been committed to any of the Fed’s specific programs or for any other purpose.
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin cuts off several Federal Reserve emergency aid programs, sparking unusual rebuke from Fed|Rachel Siegel, Jeff Stein|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

“Putting hundreds or even thousands of Virginians at risk for the sole purpose of selling guns is just not worth it,” the attorney general said on Twitter.
Virginia gun show canceled after judge orders organizers to adhere to state coronavirus crowd limits|Antonio Olivo|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Reputations are constantly being disinterred, re-examined, re-purposed for use in the troublesome present.
The Gods of Punk Are Back in New York City|Anthony Haden-Guest|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the counsel, that I have purposed upon all the earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The longer we laid there the more curious did I become as to what line of action MacRae purposed to follow.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
He was a stubborn idealist, and having found something at last to admire he purposed to hug it.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
This point they had to turn before they reached the spot from which Kinnaird purposed descending to the river.
The Gold Trail|Harold Bindloss
Against assurance such as this the dangerous Missouri with its bars and snags purposed a present revenge.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough

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; determinationa man of purpose

practical advantage or useto 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)

Word Origin for 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.

purpose

OTHER WORDS FOR purpose

Idioms about purpose

Origin of purpose

synonym study for purpose

OTHER WORDS FROM purpose

Words related to purpose

How to use purpose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for purpose

Word Origin for purpose

Other Idioms and Phrases with purpose