purposely

adverb

pur·​pose·​ly ˈpər-pəs-lē 

: with a deliberate or express purpose

Synonyms of purposely

• intentionally
• deliberately

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

Then, purposely focus on slowing your breathing. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Feb. 2026

Tanking — purposely losing to improve a team’s chances with the draft lottery — is a popular topic of discussion throughout the NBA this season. —Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026

Miller purposely keeps the story focused on the independent scene — James is boosted by a 2023 match on AEW Dark at Universal Orlando and other near-misses at getting TV appearances. —Jay Reddick, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026

Here’s a great example from a game earlier in the season against the Philadelphia 76ers, when Jamal Shead gets beaten backdoor after purposely overplaying Tyrese Maxey to reject a handoff. —Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026

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