purposely

adverb

pur·​pose·​ly ˈpər-pəs-lē 

: with a deliberate or express purpose

Synonyms

• advisedly
• consciously
• deliberately
• designedly
• intentionally
• knowingly
• purposefully
• purposively
• willfully
• wittingly

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

The claim accuses Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies of purposely firing projectiles at him or near him, without him or anyone near him posing a threat. —Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025

The lead organizers purposely didn’t plan an event in Washington, but some protesters showed up there as well anyway. —Time, 15 June 2025

Of developing your own ability to purposely mirror your movements (as opposed to the involuntary movements from mirror movement)? —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025

Since then, the term has been used to describe anyone or anything which has destroyed its brand and reputation by purposely offering up something demonstrably false, outright ridiculous, or insulting to the intelligence of anyone over the age of five. —Douglas MacKinnon, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

purposely

adverb

pur·​pose·​ly ˈpər-pəs-lē 

: with a clear or known purpose

Legal Definition

purposely

adverb

pur·​pose·​ly

: with a deliberate, conscious, or express purpose : intentionally