PURPOSE Definition & Meaning

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purpose

[ pur-puhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
Synonyms: , , , ,
an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
determination; resoluteness.
the subject in hand; the point at issue.
practical result, effect, or advantage:
to act to good purpose.

verb (used with object)

purposed, purposing.

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)

purposed, purposing.

to have a purpose.

purpose

/ ˈ��ɜː��ə�� /

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 purpose
intentionally

verb

to intend or determine to do (something)

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Other �y��vlogs From

��·��ܰ�p�ǲ�� verb (used with object) prepurposed prepurposing
��·��ܰ�p�ǲ�� verb (used with object) repurposed repurposing
�ܲ�·��ܰ�p�ǲ�� adjective
�ܲ�·��ܰ�p�ǲ�·��Բ� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of purpose¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English purpos, from Old French, derivative of purposer, variant of proposer “t�� propose ”; (verb) Middle English purposen, from Anglo-French, Old French purposer

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of purpose¹

C13: from Old French porpos, from porposer to plan, from Latin ��ō��ō�Ա�� to propose

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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 .

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Synonym Study

See intention.

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Example Sentences

He, like many, still believes in the group's purpose, and the role it plays.

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He said Canada would retaliate against US tariffs soon, "with purpose and with force", to protect workers and strength the economy.

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It also depends on customers remaining willing to allow their data to be used for research purposes.

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“There’s lots of different actors who would want this data for a lot of different purposes, far beyond what you probably thought you were consenting to when you were just interested in genealogy.”

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While Trump acknowledged the tariffs are likely to bring “a little disturbance” to the markets, he has underscored that their purpose is to reignite the American economy.

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

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