purpose

[ pur-puhs ]

/ ˈpɜr pəs /

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See synonyms for: purpose / purposed / purposes on Thesaurus.com

noun

the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.

an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.

determination; resoluteness.

the subject in hand; the point at issue.

practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.

verb (used with object), pur·posed, pur·pos·ing.

to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.

to intend; design.

to resolve (to do something): He purposed to change his way of life radically.

verb (used without object), pur·posed, pur·pos·ing.

to have a purpose.

OTHER WORDS FOR purpose

1 point, rationale.

2 object, objective, target.

7 mean, contemplate, plan.

See synonyms for purpose on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about purpose

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.

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

synonym study for purpose

1. See intention.

OTHER WORDS FROM purpose

pre·pur·pose, verb (used with object), pre·pur·posed, pre·pur·pos·ing.re·pur·pose, verb (used with object), re·pur·posed, re·pur·pos·ing.un·pur·posed, adjectiveun·pur·pos·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use purpose in a sentence

Poorly timed captions and subtitles are difficult or impossible to read, which defeats the purpose of captioning or subtitling in the first place.
Top six reasons you should caption your social media video content|Molly Yurick|November 19, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Genpact was already searching to define its purpose last year, said Tiger Tyagarajan, president and CEO.
CEOs say the pandemic hasn’t paused their focus on purpose—it’s accelerated it|jakemeth|November 17, 2020|Fortune
He says that increasing employee satisfaction is not about more benefits or perks, it’s about purpose.
Why Employees Should Write Their Company’s Obituary|Sean Braswell|November 16, 2020|Ozy
Thermal camera technology has other conservation purposes, too.
This blind rhino’s infrared security system could help stop poachers|Rachael Zisk|November 12, 2020|Popular-Science

That means there are scenarios where a family member could set up the Care Hub system by accessing the other person’s accounts without their knowledge or by inventing an email that becomes “the parent’s email” just for this purpose.
Amazon’s new ‘Care Hub’ lets Alexa owners keep tabs on aging family members|Sarah Perez|November 11, 2020|TechCrunch
He was of stronger build than his master, and at once grabbed Thomas by the collar, purposing to turn him out.
The Life of Thomas Wanless, Peasant|Alexander Johnstone Wilson
Sir Hugh called upon his other nieces to join him; purposing to stroll to the end of a lane which led to the London road.
Camilla|Fanny Burney
Most of the company were to go up in the early boat: purposing to return in the evening by the railroad.
Pencil Sketches|Eliza Leslie
After our early dinner, I strolled out alone, purposing to finish off the marshes at once, and get them done with.
Great Expectations|Charles Dickens
The big fierce-looking men, too, are in a state of wild excitement, evidently purposing an attack.
The Land of Fire|Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for purpose

purpose

/ (ˈpɜːpəs) /

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; determinationa man of purpose

practical advantage or useto work to good purpose

that which is relevant or under consideration (esp in the phrase to or from the purpose)

archaic purport

on purpose intentionally

verb (tr)

to intend or determine to do (something)

Word Origin for purpose

C13: from Old French porpos, from porposer to plan, from Latin prōpōnere to propose

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with purpose

purpose

see at cross purposes; for all intents and purposes; on purpose; serve a purpose; to good purpose; to little or no purpose.

purpose

OTHER WORDS FOR purpose

Idioms about purpose

Origin of purpose

synonym study for purpose

OTHER WORDS FROM purpose

Words related to purpose

How to use purpose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for purpose

Word Origin for purpose

Other Idioms and Phrases with purpose