purpose

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
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    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
    synonyms: aim, design, intent, intention, mission
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    types:
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    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
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    types:
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    doggedness, perseverance, persistence, persistency, pertinacity, tenaciousness, tenacity
    persistent determination
    indefatigability, indefatigableness, tirelessness
    tireless determination
    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
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    type of:
    intend, mean, think
    have in mind as a purpose
  5. verb
    reach a decision
    synonyms: resolve
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    type of:
    decide, determine, make up one's mind
    reach, make, or come to a decision about something
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