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

   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. Jimmy Hayes:

   Even when you're mad at him for doing something stupid, he'll say something so dumb that you think he probably does it on purpose, where you're just like how could you even be mad at him.

2. Gopal Vittal:

   There still are problems with the network...We are still not where we need to be, the primary purpose of this is a commitment to building a world class network in India.

3. AiR Atman in Ravi:

   What is our Purpose of Life on earth? Why this Life? Why this birth? We must find out why we are born... And achieve our Purpose before death blows its horn.

4. Purvi Raniga:

   You have a dream. You want to live that dream everyday. Start from where you are. The goal looks far far away. Start anyway. Take baby steps. It is super hard. Keep going. The process is super painful. Initial results are not what you desired or deserve. Still keep going. Inner voice says quit now, this is not going anywhere. Still keep going anyway. Trust your purpose and process. Consistency and hard work brings better results. Other challenges of life also play their parts. Still keep going. You see tiny success in your path. Celebrate and be grateful for each success. Other opportunities start showing up in your journey. Keep learning throughout the process. Keep growing. Have faith. Dreams will come true. Real purpose will prevail.

5. Emeasoba George:

   (My Article Of Faith) This is my strongly held belief. I'm not here on earth coincidentally or by chance. Rather, I'm here on earth for a divine predetermined purpose or mission i.e. to fulfill my God-given uncommon destiny. Guess what? I cannot and will not fulfill my destiny miserably NO not at all. Instead, I can and will surely fulfill my God-given destiny in a grand style. Oh! Yes, I can and I will do just that even against all odds. That's just my own article of faith. I don't know about yours. -Emeasoba George

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