PURPOSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does purpose mean? 

• PURPOSE (noun)
  The noun PURPOSE has 3 senses:

1. an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

2. what something is used for

3. the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose

  Familiarity information: PURPOSE used as a noun is uncommon.

• PURPOSE (verb)
  The verb PURPOSE has 2 senses:

1. propose or intend

2. reach a decision

  Familiarity information: PURPOSE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PURPOSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

aim; design; intent; intention; purpose

Context example:

he made no secret of his designs

Hypernyms ("purpose" is a kind of...):

end; goal (the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purpose"):

idea; mind (your intention; what you intend to do)

cross-purpose (a contrary aim)

final cause ((philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process)

sake (the purpose of achieving or obtaining)

view (purpose; the phrase 'with a view to' means 'with the intention of' or 'for the purpose of')

will (a fixed and persistent intent or purpose)

Derivation:

purpose (propose or intend)

Sense 2

Meaning:

What something is used for

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

function; purpose; role; use

Context example:

ballet is beautiful but what use is it?

Hypernyms ("purpose" is a kind of...):

usefulness; utility (the quality of being of practical use)

Attribute:

functional (designed for or capable of a particular function or use)

nonfunctional (not having or performing a function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purpose"):

raison d'etre (the purpose that justifies a thing's existence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

determination; purpose

Context example:

he is a man of purpose

Hypernyms ("purpose" is a kind of...):

firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve (the trait of being resolute)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purpose"):

doggedness; perseverance; persistence; persistency; pertinacity; tenaciousness; tenacity (persistent determination)

indefatigability; indefatigableness; tirelessness (tireless determination)

diligence; industriousness; industry (persevering determination to perform a task)

Derivation:

purpose (reach a decision)

purpose (propose or intend)

• PURPOSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they purpose    ... he / she / it purposes   
Past simple: purposed   
Past participle: purposed   
-ing form: purposing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Propose or intend

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

aim; propose; purport; purpose

Context example:

I aim to arrive at noon

Hypernyms (to "purpose" is one way to...):

intend; mean; think (have in mind as a purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

purpose (the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose)

purpose (an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reach a decision

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

purpose; resolve

Context example:

he resolved never to drink again

Hypernyms (to "purpose" is one way to...):

decide; determine; make up one's mind (reach, make, or come to a decision about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

purpose (the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose)

 Context examples 

This is far the most important of all for our purpose.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I got his leave to come into town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He acknowledged that, but he had a feeling that he was not sharing his work with her for the purpose of schoolroom correction.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza,” said Charlotte.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

They blocked their own efforts, while Wolf Larsen, with but a single purpose, achieved his.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

They were shallow, not more than two feet deep, but they would serve the purpose.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But the youth said: “However difficult it may be, I will learn it. For this purpose indeed have I journeyed forth.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The biological purpose of beta-amyloid hasn’t been known.

(Alzheimer’s protein may have natural antibiotic role, NIH)

The main purpose for most imaging of the sun by Curiosity and other Mars rovers has been to monitor how its apparent brightness is affected by dust in Mars' atmosphere above the rovers.

(Curiosity Mars Rover Tracks Sunspots, NASA)

In nature, building blocks such as protein molecules are assembled into larger structures for specific purposes.

(New technique helps engineer water filters, human tissues, National Science Foundation)