purpose

¹pur·pose

noun \ˈpər-pəs\

Definition of PURPOSE

1

a : something set up as an object or end to be attained : intention b : resolution, determination

2

: a subject under discussion or an action in course of execution

— on purpose

: by intent : intentionally

Examples of PURPOSE

1. The purpose of the new resort is to attract more tourists.
2. The loans are small but they serve a good purpose.
3. Sometimes his life seemed to lack purpose or meaning.
4. We started work again with a renewed sense of purpose.
5. Shocking as it is, more than a month after the hurricane hit, New Orleans is still, for all practical purposes, a ghost town. —Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
6. By the time … American aid began pouring in, to all intents and purposes the war had already been lost. —Neil L. Jamieson, Understanding Vietnam, 1993
7. But wartime wage and price controls prevented companies from competing for the available talent by means of increased salaries. They had to compete with fringe benefits instead, and free health insurance was tailor-made for this purpose. —John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, May - June 1992
8. His purpose is to realize himself, to live the fullest possible life, and he is responsible for this, like all men, regardless of how society treats him. —Shelby Steele, Wilson Quarterly, Summer 1990

Origin of PURPOSE

Middle English purpos, from Anglo-French, from purposer to intend, propose, from Latin proponere (perfect indicative proposui) to propose — more at propound

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PURPOSE

Synonyms: aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne (also bourn), design, dream, end, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, goal, target, thing

Related Words: grail, holy grail; plot, project, scheme; desire, hope, mind, wish; nirvana; destination, terminus

Near Antonyms: means, method, way

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at intention