purpose
Americannoun
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the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
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determination; resoluteness.
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the subject in hand; the point at issue.
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practical result, effect, or advantage.
to act to good purpose.
verb (used with object)
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to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.
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to intend; design.
- Synonyms:
- plan, contemplate, mean
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to resolve (to do something).
He purposed to change his way of life radically.
verb (used without object)
idioms
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on purpose, by design; intentionally.
How could you do such a thing on purpose?
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to the purpose, relevant; to the point.
Her objections were not to the purpose.
noun
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the reason for which anything is done, created, or exists
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a fixed design, outcome, or idea that is the object of an action or other effort
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fixed intention in doing something; determination
a man of purpose
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practical advantage or use
to work to good purpose
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that which is relevant or under consideration (esp in the phrase to or from the purpose )
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archaic purport
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intentionally
verb
Related Words
See intention.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
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
Explanation
When you do something with purpose, you do it with determination. When your activities have a purpose, you have an aim or intention in mind. This noun also has a third meaning: "function, role, or use." The purpose of a fork, for instance, is to spear and scoop food from your plate, not to poke your little brother at the dinner table. Purpose can also be used as a verb meaning "to reach a decision" or "to intend," though these uses of the word are quite a bit less frequent nowadays.
Vocabulary lists containing purpose
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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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.
Rollins found another purpose to his art after the September 11, 2001 attacks, when he was living just six blocks from the doomed World Trade Center.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
With “The Sheep Detectives,” the film’s polish is its purpose.
From Salon • May 25, 2026
But he invoked Alan Greenspan, sworn in at the same spot in 1987, saying he would fill the role “with energy and purpose, just the way Chairman Greenspan did.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
“He knew his one purpose was to serve this beautiful community,” his son Yasser Kaziha said at an event in recent days captured on video.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
There was even a type of speech called the filibuster, whose sole purpose was to waste time.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
