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"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.

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

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 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

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. Doug Collins:

   Your 81 letters appear to be little more than a deep-sea fishing expedition with the purpose of exposing private matters and airing alleged dirty laundry rather than legislating.

2. Karen Saprapani:

   It can be expensive to feed a growing big cat because they require lots of raw meat, it's possible whomever owned it was overwhelmed by the cost and released it on purpose figuring local authorities would be able to take care of it, or they actually lost it and are afraid to come forward because of all the concern.

3. Renae A. Sauter:

   Once you are in alignment with your life purpose; there will be a knowing in your heart that is so strong; that it will let you know you have found your true calling. This will provide you will all the energy you need to fulfill your mission.”

4. Matt Bennett:

   The purpose of the ratings is to help inform and guide parents, not to prescribe social policy.

5. Gerald Ford:

   That purpose was to change our national focus. I wanted to do all I could to shift our attentions from the pursuit of a fallen President to the pursuit of the urgent needs of a rising nation.

Popularity rank by frequency of use