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to good purpose

Idioms  
  1. To effective use, as in A donation to the homeless shelter will be put to good purpose. This idiom was first recorded in 1553. Also see to little or no purpose.


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.

Others are less convinced that the technology will be put to good purpose.

From Washington Times • Jul. 10, 2021

She was able to take her grief and use it to good purpose.

From Washington Post • Dec. 10, 2018

We have a governing system of checks and balances for many good reasons, and to good purpose.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2018

Teams may work together often for an hour or more, the coyote mock-chasing or otherwise playfully inviting the lethargic badger to activity when it pauses, and to good purpose.

From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2010

What he’d learned in school, and from his father, and from his own investigations—he could put it all to good purpose now.

From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau