serve a purpose

Idioms

Also,. Be useful, meet the needs or requirements, satisfy, as in I don't know why they've added all this information but it probably serves a purpose, or It often serves his purpose to be vague, or We don't have a spading fork but this shovel should serve the purpose. This idiom was first recorded in 1513.

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.

That’s OK if they all serve a purpose.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

"I just see that great massive cost and it is not going to serve a purpose because after seven years, no learning can come out of that now," she said.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2025

So in shopping for needs, we want to think about things the young people can get excited about and serve a purpose – for instance, a shiny new bike.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2023

“All creatures serve a purpose in the web of life. Every species contributes to the stability of an ecosystem,” Reading says.

From Scientific American • Sep. 29, 2023

“Ask yourself: Does that b serve a purpose? Why is it even there?”

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023