purpose

[ pur-puhs ]

/ ˈpɜr pəs /

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.

SYNONYMS FOR purpose

1 object, point, rationale.

7 mean, contemplate, plan.

See synonyms for purpose on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for 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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for purpose

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
Yet the "Tigers" purposed to make the place the talk of the juvenile population and they turned to their captain for advice.
A Son of the City|Herman Gastrell Seely
Things that were purposed to be benedictions can be changed into blights.
My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year|John Henry Jowett
Maurice arrived in Washington without having apprised his father of his purposed visit.
Fairy Fingers|Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie
About five in the afternoon we left for Whitehall, where we purposed passing the night.
The Continental Monthly, Vol 6, No 5, November 1864|Various
He learned nothing, and returned as ignorant, so far as really understanding the problems he purposed to study, as he came.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No. V, May, 1863|Various

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

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.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WORD OF THE DAY

purpose

noun

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

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

SYNONYMS FOR purpose

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for purpose

Origin of purpose

synonym study for purpose

OTHER WORDS FROM purpose

Example sentences from the Web for purpose

British Dictionary definitions for purpose

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for purpose

Idioms and Phrases with purpose

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

purpose

noun

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

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

SYNONYMS FOR purpose

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for purpose

Origin of purpose

synonym study for purpose

OTHER WORDS FROM purpose

Words related to purpose

Example sentences from the Web for purpose

British Dictionary definitions for purpose

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for purpose

Idioms and Phrases with purpose