purposely

[pur-puhs-lee]

adverb

1. intentionally; deliberately.

   He tripped me purposely.

2. with the particular purpose specified; expressly.

   I wore that suit purposely to make a good impression.

purposely

/ ˈpɜːpəslɪ /

adverb

1. for a definite reason; on purpose

Other Word Forms

• unpurposely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of purposely¹

First recorded in 1485–95; purpose + -ly

Example Sentences

Supplies are purposely light because Stefansson wants the group to demonstrate how easy it is to live off the land.

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A top reporter for the Guardian in London, she’s just back from an assignment during which a female source was purposely drowned.

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With her sophomore album, “Solace,” she “purposely made a concerted effort to move away from that,” McLachlan says, “because I wanted to know what I sounded like.”

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The news report brought the hearing to a temporary halt, sparking anger, frustration and accusations that prison officials had purposely released the recording to cause a “spectacle.”

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He added that it created “an impossible standard that we can’t meet,” and that rules were “purposely vague so they could choose to enforce against whoever they wanted, whenever they wanted.”

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Related Words

• consciously 
• deliberately 
• explicitly 
• expressly 
• knowingly www.thesaurus.com
• willfully 

When To Use

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.