purposeful
Americanadjective
-
having a definite purpose in view
-
fixed in one's purpose; determined
Usage
Purposefully is sometimes wrongly used where purposely is meant: he had purposely (not purposefully ) left the door unlocked
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of purposeful
Explanation
Something purposeful is done on purpose: it's meant to achieve an aim. Lots of things happen accidentally or randomly, but other things have a purpose. Such things can be called purposeful. Going to college, starting a family, giving to a charity, and adopting a dog are all purposeful acts. People have a reason for doing them, and they want to accomplish something specific. Purposeful things are thought-out and intentional.
Vocabulary lists containing purposeful
Unit 1: Telling Details
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myPerspectives 8.3
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"A Village After Dark" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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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.
In the three major biggest nuclear countries, the United States, Russia and China, the people involved with those nuclear forces know that a purposeful attack is essentially suicidal.
From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026
The country's official motto for 2026 is "Independent neutral Turkmenistan is the homeland of purposeful winged horses".
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Exile, in Joyce’s case, was determined and purposeful.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
“And we found it so meaningful and purposeful to be sure that there is a place to talk about it, to create with it.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
She wore tights woven in an intentionally chaotic pattern with purposeful rips.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
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.
