purpose
Americannoun
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purposes
plural
-
the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
-
determination; resoluteness.
-
the subject in hand; the point at issue.
-
practical result, effect, or advantage.
to act to good purpose.
verb (used with object)
-
to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.
-
to intend; design.
- Synonyms:
- plan, contemplate, mean
-
to resolve (to do something).
He purposed to change his way of life radically.
verb (used without object)
idioms
-
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.
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
-
intentionally
verb
Synonym Usage
See intention.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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prepurposeverb (used with object)
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repurposeverb (used with object)
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unpurposedadjective
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unpurposingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
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
Explanation
When you do something with purpose, you do it with determination. When your activities have a purpose, you have an aim or intention in mind. This noun also has a third meaning: "function, role, or use." The purpose of a fork, for instance, is to spear and scoop food from your plate, not to poke your little brother at the dinner table. Purpose can also be used as a verb meaning "to reach a decision" or "to intend," though these uses of the word are quite a bit less frequent nowadays.
Vocabulary lists containing purpose
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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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.
See Examples For:
“Agency” is wielding power and autonomy in choosing how to live; “belonging” is forging social ties with others; and “cause” is serving a higher purpose.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
The very purpose of a surrogacy agreement is for a surrogate to carry a child for the intended parents.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
No. The Catholic priest who conducted our marriage preparation mentioned that the purpose of the wedding-cake cutting was to inaugurate the domestic life of the new couple.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
In recent years, Macklemore has taken on a new purpose with his platform.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
She had a gift, a purpose, and a calling.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
The agency encourages property owners to remove certain trees around homes for defensible-space purposes and works to thin forests throughout the Tahoe Basin to reduce wildfire risk.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Meanwhile, Nadella testified that “anything that is paywalled should be licensed by anyone who wants to use it,” for purposes including AI training.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
Later analysis showed that Old Ancestors had intentionally placed the stone inside the cave for ritual purposes around 2,000 years ago.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
"These capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes," it added.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
As Kuhn pointed out over and over again, one of the central purposes of an education in the sciences is to hide this basic truth from the next generation of scientists.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
QCi said Monday that the foundry, “currently purposed for research and development and prototyping,” had begun to generate early revenue, though contributions weren’t broken out in the report.
From Barron's ● May 11, 2026
If the purposed minimum pay rate does go through, it'll be the first of its kind nationwide.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2023
“There are no awards. There are no winners or losers tonight. It’s just our passion that makes our heartbeat faster. It makes our life so much more greatly purposed with joy and fulfillment.”
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 5, 2023
“There are no awards. There are no winners or losers tonight. It’s just our passion that makes our heart beat faster. It makes our life so much more greatly purposed with joy and fulfillment.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2023
I do not know how, purposed with so high & noble Aims, we end thus in Ruin.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
As ProPublica detailed in 2016, several state court systems have adopted a proprietary software that purports to put a probability on recidivism for sentencing purposing.
From Slate ● Apr. 8, 2021
I read with my watch upon the table, purposing to close my book at eleven o’clock.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
So saying, he bowed with much formality and withdrew, purposing to call the footman to account for his negligence.
From The Baron's Sons by M?r J?kai
While Heraclius is brooding over the compromise of Sergius for reuniting an empire dislocated by heresy, Mohammed is purposing the foundation of an empire resting on material force.
From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Thomas W. Allies
He was of stronger build than his master, and at once grabbed Thomas by the collar, purposing to turn him out.
From The Life of Thomas Wanless, Peasant by Alexander Johnstone Wilson
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.
