Definitions for purpose
ˈpɜr pəspur·pose

Princeton's WordNet(4.06 / 19 votes)Rate this definition:

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"

Webster Dictionary(4.25 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

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

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

2. Purposenoun

   proposal to another; discourse

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

3. Purposenoun

   instance; example

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

4. Purposeverb

   to set forth; to bring forward

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

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

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

6. Purposeverb

   to have a purpose or intention; to discourse

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

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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 Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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 Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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

How to pronounce purpose?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

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. Shah Asad Rizvi:

   Behind every purpose, there’s a reason, behind every reason, there’s a story, behind every story, there’s a dance... ready to set in motion

2. Paul Sadler:

   Why Paul God already had called twelve apostles of the kingdom Although Judas had fallen in transgression, the seat of his apostolic office was filled by Matthias preceding the day of Pentecost. Insofar as Paul was unconverted at the time, he could not have possibly fulfilled the qualificatios set down by the Holy Spirit to be numbered with the twelve (Acts 121-26). Of course, there are many dispensationalists who would agree with this interpretation, but teach that God ordained Paul to be the thirteenth apostle of the kingdom. Perhaps you have heard the saying, 'They jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.' In other words, we have gone from bad to worse, which is certainly the case with this view. the number twelve is stamped throughout the pages of prophecy, thus eliminating the possibility of a thirteenth apostolic office (Matt. 1928 cf. Rev. 12-21). What logical explanation then can we give for Paul's apostleship Before the foundation of the world, God foreordained that He would raise up a new apostle to reveal His eternal purpose for the parenthetical age of Grace in which we now live. Hence, Paul says 'But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen Gentiles...' (Gal. 115.16). When God temporarily rolled up the building plans of prophecy and placed them aside, He made known a secret set of plans. With this program came a completely new set of blueprints. According to the counsel of His will, He had predetermined to call Paul as the masterbuilder of the project. So then, the instructions for our building program are found in Paul's epistles. Little wonder the apostles says 'I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.' (1 Cor. 310). It is essential to use Pauline constructio materials (grace doctrines), simply because someday soon the Building Inspector will examine our workmanship to determine if we followed His codes.

3. RJ Intindola – (Gandolfo):

   Keep those close that bring joy and purpose and maintain distance from people who induce chaos and turmoil in your life.

4. Carl Gustav Jung:

   As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.

5. Sonjay Anand:

   The purpose of a liberal arts education is to learn that a person can like both cats *and* dogs!

Images & Illustrations of purpose

Popularity rank by frequency of use