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

   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.

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. William Gladstone:

   The American Constitution is, so far as I can see, the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.

2. John Kerry:

   These sanctions could be lifted in a matter of weeks or days, depending on the choices that President Putin takes, their sole purpose here is to restore the international norm with respect to behavior between nations.

3. Laura Kubzansky:

   For physical health, it's not so much happiness per se, but this ability to regulate and have a sense of purpose and meaning.

4. Gerald Ford:

   We have come tardily to the tremendous task of cleaning up our environment. We should have moved with similar zeal at least a decade ago. But no purpose is served by post-mortems. With visionary zeal but the greatest realism, we must now address ourselves to the vast problems that confront us.

5. John Denham:

   The English-centric idea of union was fostered as part of the imperial Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the truth is that old idea of the union lost its sense of purpose decades ago. And in that time, the other parts of the union asserted their identity( or in Northern Ireland, identities). If government really wants the union to survive, it has to be a partnership between all the nations.

Images & Illustrations of purpose

Popularity rank by frequency of use