Definitions for purpose
ˈpɜr pəspur·pose

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

1. purpose, intent, intention, aim, design(noun)

   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, use(noun)

   what something is used for

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

3. determination, purpose(verb)

   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, propose(verb)

   propose or intend

   "I aim to arrive at noon"

5. purpose, resolve(verb)

   reach a decision

   "he resolved never to drink again"

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

1. Purpose(noun)

   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. Purpose(noun)

   proposal to another; discourse

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

3. Purpose(noun)

   instance; example

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

4. Purpose(verb)

   to set forth; to bring forward

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

5. Purpose(verb)

   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. Purpose(verb)

   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

   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.

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. Denis Watley:

   Where there is life, there is hope. Where there are hopes, there are dreams. Where there are vivid dreams repeated, they become goals. Goals become the action plans and game plans that winners dwell on in intricate detail, knowing that achievement is almost automatic when the goal becomes an inner commitment. The response to the challenges of life -- purpose -- is the healing balm that enables each of us to face up to adversity and strife.

2. Hyeon Soo Lim:

   The purpose that I traveled about several parts of the country on the pretext of 'aid' was to build a base to overthrow the system of the country and create a religious state, taking advantage of the policies of the U.S. and South Korean authorities.

3. Cory Gardner:

   I'm encouraged that they've opened a full investigation to learn the source and purpose of the drones.

4. Zoran Zaev:

   I call on Nikola Gruevski to immediately come before the citizens and explain who wants to destabilize Macedonia, why and with what purpose, this dark scenario will not work. The citizens see who has an interest in such a scenario.

5. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   It's so easy to "talk the talk" than walk the walk. I sometimes wonder how many of these Quoters "walk the talk", and follow their quotes with actions in their own lives. We must always do what we say, because that brings the true meaning and purpose to life.

Images & Illustrations of purpose

Popularity rank by frequency of use