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definitions

purposeful

[ pur-puh s-fuh l ]
/ ˈpɜr pəs fəl /
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adjective

having a purpose.
determined; resolute.
full of meaning; significant.

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RELATED WORDS

passionately, sincerely, earnestly, vigorously, actively, nimbly, eagerly, hastily, carefully, energetically, laboriously, diligently, painstakingly, enthusiastically, restlessly, ardently, hurriedly, assiduously, forcefully, quickly

Nearby words

purport, purported, purportedly, purpose, purpose-built, purposefully, purposeless, purposely, purposive, purpresture, purpura

Origin of purposeful

First recorded in 1850–55; purpose + -ful
Related formspur·pose·ful·ly, adverbpur·pose·ful·ness, noun
Can be confusedpurposefully purposely
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for purposefully

British Dictionary definitions for purposefully

purposeful

/ (ˈpɜːpəsfʊl) /

adjective

having a definite purpose in view
fixed in one's purpose; determined
Derived Formspurposefully, adverbpurposefulness, noun

usage

Purposefully is sometimes wrongly used where purposely is meant: he had purposely (not purposefully) left the door unlocked
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

Word Origin and History for purposefully

purposeful

adj.

1835, from purpose (n.) + -ful. Related: Purposefully.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper