purposefully
Americanadverb
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in a determined or resolute way.
Many runners break down in the marathon’s second half, but I stayed positive as I painfully and purposefully placed one foot in front of the other.
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in a thoughtful and focused way, with a serious desire to accomplish something.
The Family Fun Cooking Classes are designed to educate, but more importantly, to encourage adults in our community to purposefully spend time with young people.
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with intention; deliberately; purposely.
He maliciously and purposefully slammed the car door on my foot, resulting in a fracture.
Etymology
Origin of purposefully
Compare meaning
How does purposefully compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When you do something in a determined or deliberate way, you do it purposefully. If you finished your brother's favorite cereal yesterday, he may purposefully shake the last of your favorite kind into his bowl this morning. Acting purposefully means doing something on purpose, or in a way that demonstrates your sense of resolve. Soldiers trudging purposefully into battle are determined and have their eyes wide open — they know what they're doing. If you purposefully avoid talking about politics with your family during the holidays, that means you intentionally steer clear of controversial topics.
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.
Anya says she used to wonder what would have happened if she had not stopped by the agency that day, but now she believes she was purposefully targeted.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
The chances of a life as complex and purposefully incongruent as Madonna’s fitting into one feature-length film — even two or three — are slim, and even that’s an understatement.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
The failure of Italy’s national team to qualify for the World Cup, for the third time in a row, is such an embarrassment in this soccer-mad country that Italians are purposefully ignoring it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
The choice of “Psycho Killer” is purposefully on the nose, and nothing onscreen gives an inkling of awkwardness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
It's as if the newsies purposefully ignore her.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
