Definitions for purpose
ˈpɜr pəspur·pose

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.1 / 19 votes

1. purpose, intent, intention, aim, designnoun

   an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

   "his intent was to provide a new translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs"; "he made no secret of his designs"

2. function, purpose, role, usenoun

   what something is used for

   "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?"

3. determination, purposeverb

   the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose

   "his determination showed in his every movement"; "he is a man of purpose"

4. aim, purpose, purport, proposeverb

   propose or intend

   "I aim to arrive at noon"

5. purpose, resolveverb

   reach a decision

   "he resolved never to drink again"

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PURPOSEnoun

   Etymology: propos, Fr. propositum, Lat.

   1. Intention; design.

   He quit the house of purpose, that their punishment
   Might have the freer course. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   Change this purpose,
   Which being so horrible, so bloody, must
   Lead on to some foul issue. William Shakespeare.

   He with troops of horsemen beset the passages of purpose, that when the army should set forward, he might in the streights, fit for his purpose, set upon them. Richard Knolles.

   And I persuade me God hath not permitted
   His strength again to grow, were not his purpose
   To use him farther yet. John Milton, Agonistes.

   St. Austin hath laid down a rule to this very purpose. Burn.

   They, who are desirous of a name in painting, should read and make observations of such things as they find for their purpose. John Dryden, Dufresnoy.

   He travelled the world, on purpose to converse with the most learned men. Guardian, №. 165.

   The common materials, which the ancients made their ships of, were the ornus or wild ash; the fir was likewise used for this purpose. Arbuthnot.

   I do this, on purpose to give you a more sensible impression of the imperfection of your knowledge. Isaac Watts.

   Where men err against this method, it is usually on purpose, and to shew their learning. Jonathan Swift.

   2. Effect; consequence.

   To small purpose had the council of Jerusalem been assembled, if once their determination being set down, men might afterwards have defended their former opinions. Richard Hooker.

   The ground will be like a wood, which keepeth out the sun, and so continueth the wet, whereby it will never graze, to purpose that year. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist.

   Their design is a war, whenever they can open it with a prospect of succeeding to purpose. William Temple.

   Such first principles will serve us to very little purpose, and we shall be as much at a loss with, as without them, if they may, by any human power, such as is the will of our teachers, or opinions of our companions, be altered or lost in us. John Locke.

   He that would relish success to purpose, should keep his passion cool, and his expectation low. Jeremy Collier, on Desire.

   What the Romans have done is not worth notice, having had little occasion to make use of this art, and what they have of it to purpose being borrowed from Aristotle . Thomas Baker.

   3. Instance; example.

   ’Tis common for double-dealers to be taken in their own snares, as for the purpose in the matter of power. Roger L'Estrange.

2. To Purposeverb

   To intend; to design; to resolve.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   What he did purpose, it was the pleasure of God that Solomon his son should perform. Richard Hooker.

   It is a purpos’d thing, and grows by plot,
   To curb the nobility. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   I am purposed, that my mouth shall not transgress. Ps. xvii.

   This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth. Is. xiv. 26.

   Paul purposed in the spirit, to go to Jerusalem. Acts xix. 21.

   The christian captains, purposing to retire home, placed on each side of the army four ranks of waggons. Richard Knolles.

   The whole included race his purpos’d prey. John Milton.

   Oaths were not purpos’d more than law,
   To keep the good and just in awe,
   But to confine the bad and sinful,
   Like moral cattle in a pinfold. Hudibras.

   Doubling my crime, I promise and deceive,
   Purpose to slay, whilst swearing to forgive. Matthew Prior.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Purpose

   Purpose is the end for which something is done, created or for which it exists. It is part of the topic of intentionality and goal-seeking behavior.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. purpose

   Purpose is the reason or intention behind an action, decision, or existence. It is the underlying motivation or goal that gives meaning and direction to one's thoughts, actions, and endeavors. Purpose provides a sense of fulfillment, clarity, and focus, guiding individuals towards their desired outcomes and helping them make choices that align with their values and aspirations.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.3 / 4 votes

1. Purposenoun

   that which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan

2. Purposenoun

   proposal to another; discourse

3. Purposenoun

   instance; example

4. Purposeverb

   to set forth; to bring forward

5. Purposeverb

   to propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; -- often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause

6. Purposeverb

   to have a purpose or intention; to discourse

7. Etymology: [OF. purposer, proposer. See Propose.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Purpose

   pur′pos, n. idea or aim kept before the mind as the end of effort: aim, intention: effect: (Spens.) conversation: (pl.) a sort of conversational game.—Of, or On, purpose, with design, intentionally; To the purpose, to the point, or material to the question. [O. Fr. pourpos, propos—L. propositum, a thing intended—pro, forward, ponĕre, positum, to place.]

2. Purpose

   pur′pos, v.t. to intend (often followed by an infinitive or participial clause as its object).—v.i. to have an intention: (Spens.) to discourse.—adj. Pur′poseful, having an object: full of meaning.—adv. Pur′posefully.—n. Pur′posefulness.—adj. Pur′poseless, without purpose or effect: aimless.—adv. Pur′poselessly.—n. Pur′poselessness.—adj. Pur′pose-like, having a definite purpose: having the appearance of being fit for a purpose.—adv. Pur′posely, with purpose: intentionally.—n. Pur′poser.—adj. Pur′posive, having an aim: (biol.) functional.—n. Pur′posiveness. [O. Fr. purposer, form of proposer, influenced by Fr. propos.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. purpose

   A reason to exist.

   We all require a sense of purpose to focus on daily and to motivate our actions.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on August 25, 2020  

2. ---

   purpose

   An accurate and specific vision, strategy, goal, objective, plan or budget we choose.

   The company was fit for purpose and all worked in harmony with each other to achieve.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 26, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. purpose

   Song lyrics by purpose -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by purpose on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Decide
   • Utility

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'purpose' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1082

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'purpose' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1509

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'purpose' in Nouns Frequency: #264

Anagrams for purpose »

1. peropus

How to pronounce purpose?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say purpose in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of purpose in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of purpose in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of purpose in a Sentence

1. Rush Limbaugh:

   I don't know if it was done on purpose, with the intent to sabotage my effort, or if it was done on purpose as a result of a misunderstanding during production meetings about some of the things I said I might find challenging and eager to do.

2. Richard Isaacson:

   Cognitive engagement, socialization, physical activity and having a sense of purpose can separately, or even more so in combination, address key modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease dementia.

3. General John Nicholson:

   I think all the uses have been right in line with the intended purpose that the president gave us.

4. Elizabeth Warren:

   We will be batting those attacks down, but the bigger purpose is to make the positive case and we are explaining why he is qualified for this position, we just want to be ready if they do ramp [the attacks] up further.

5. Morgan Sword:

   It’s a direct response to the escalating strikeout rate, where you’re giving the hitter approximately one one-hundreth of a second of additional time to decide whether to swing at a pitch, which has the effect just in terms of reaction time of reducing the effective velocity of a pitch by roughly 1.5 mph, the purpose of the test and hope is giving hitters even that tiny additional piece of time will allow them to make more contact and reduce the strikeout rate.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=purpose
2. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=purpose
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purpose
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purpose
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=purpose