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purpose
[ pur-puhs ]
noun
- the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
Synonyms: , , , ,
- determination; resoluteness.
- the subject in hand; the point at issue.
- practical result, effect, or advantage:
to act to good purpose.
verb (used with object)
- to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.
- to intend; design.
Synonyms: , ,
- to resolve (to do something):
He purposed to change his way of life radically.
verb (used without object)
- to have a purpose.
purpose
/ ˈɜːə /
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; determination
a man of purpose
- practical advantage or use
to work to good purpose
- that which is relevant or under consideration (esp in the phrase to or from the purpose )
- archaic.purport
- on purposeintentionally
verb
- to intend or determine to do (something)
Other 51Թ Forms
- ·ܰpDz verb (used with object) prepurposed prepurposing
- ·ܰpDz verb (used with object) repurposed repurposing
- ܲ·ܰpDz adjective
- ܲ·ܰpDz·Բ adjective
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of purpose1
Idioms and Phrases
- 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.
More idioms and phrases containing purpose
see at cross purposes ; for all intents and purposes ; on purpose ; serve a purpose ; to good purpose ; to little or no purpose .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
And when institutions abandon shared vocabulary, they abandon shared purpose.
If you enjoyed your job and found purpose in it, the loss can be devastating and bring a grief-filled identity crisis.
This would include assessing the implications of the recent Supreme Court judgement that a woman is defined by biological sex for the purposes of equality legislation, it said.
"Trump recognises he's not going to get anywhere near 100% of what he wants, so he's trying to find a concession point where China can let him have just enough winning, especially for domestic purposes."
She adds: "It's a very, very human thing, a conclave... It's got a divine purpose to it, but it's a very human thing."
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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.
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