purposely

adverb

pur·​pose·​ly ˈpər-pəs-lē How to pronounce purposely (audio)
Synonyms of purposelynext
: with a deliberate or express purpose

Examples of purposely in a Sentence

the real estate agent purposely withheld information that would have discouraged us from buying the property
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To be clear, there is no evidence White is trying to purposely undermine Caitlin Clark. Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026 The former Super Bowl-winning coach is one of the most respected men in the NASCAR garage, and few would purposely criticize him. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026 Fire marshals are trying to determine if the fire was purposely set and how it was started. Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026 But the videos are purposely lower production value than a traditional ad. Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for purposely

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purposely was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Purposely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposely. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

purposely

adverb
pur·​pose·​ly ˈpər-pəs-lē How to pronounce purposely (audio)
: with a clear or known purpose

Legal Definition

purposely

adverb
pur·​pose·​ly
: with a deliberate, conscious, or express purpose : intentionally

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