purposely
Americanadverb
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intentionally; deliberately.
He tripped me purposely.
-
with the particular purpose specified; expressly.
I wore that suit purposely to make a good impression.
adverb
Usage
What does purposely mean? Purposely is used to describe an action done intentionally, deliberately, or for a specific reason. The word purposefully means in a determined way or in a way that’s full of purpose. It should not be used to mean intentionally or deliberately. Example: I show up late to parties purposely so I’m not the first one there.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of purposely
Compare meaning
How does purposely compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
Ms. Pat, or Patricia Williams, purposely comes on strong, and her sometimes heartfelt humor is authentic in every way.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
"I wanted to do that purposely because I think that helps us make connections to things we might not have raised our awareness to that are around us," she said.
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026
Some ships purposely spoof their own signals to hide from Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026
The plaintiffs allege that the platforms are negligent and purposely designed to be harmful, echoing a strategy successfully used against the tobacco industry.
From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026
Roy had purposely dropped to the rear of the line, and when the others weren’t looking, he peeled away from the group.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
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.
