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purpose

/ˈpʌrpəs/
/ˈpʌpəs/
IPA guide

Other forms: purposes; purposed; purposing

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.

Definitions of purpose
  1. noun
    what something is used for
    synonyms: function, role, use
    see moresee less
    types:
    raison d'etre
    the purpose that justifies a thing's existence
    type of:
    usefulness, utility
    the quality of being of practical use
  2. noun
    an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
    see moresee less
    types:
    idea, mind
    your intention; what you intend to do
    cross-purpose
    a contrary aim
    final cause
    (philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process
    sake
    the purpose of achieving or obtaining
    view
    purpose; the phrase `with a view to' means `with the intention of' or `for the purpose of'
    will
    a fixed and persistent intent or purpose
    type of:
    end, goal
    the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it
  3. noun
    the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose
    “he is a man of purpose
    synonyms: determination
    see moresee less
    types:
    diligence, industriousness, industry
    persevering determination to perform a task
    assiduity, assiduousness, concentration
    great and constant diligence and attention
    sedulity, sedulousness
    the quality of being constantly diligent and attentive
    studiousness
    diligent study
    type of:
    firmness, firmness of purpose, resoluteness, resolution, resolve
    the trait of being resolute
  4. verb
    propose or intend
    synonyms: aim, propose, purport
    see moresee less
    type of:
    intend, mean, think
    have in mind as a purpose
  5. verb
    reach a decision
    synonyms: resolve
    see moresee less
    type of:
    decide, determine, make up one's mind
    reach, make, or come to a decision about something
Pronunciation
US
/ˈpʌrpəs/
UK
/ˈpʌpəs/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘purpose'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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