purposes 1 of 2

noun

plural of purpose
1
as in goals
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish the purpose of the research is to discover how the virus is transmitted

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in roles
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists still trying to discover her purpose in life

Synonyms & Similar Words

purposes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of purpose
as in plans
to have in mind as a purpose or goal I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of purposes
Noun
Selfie videos can be used for login purposes, to verify your age for accessing certain account features, and to create an AI avatar. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026 The phrase joins two purposes of education that are often treated as rivals. — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Recreational marijuana isn't legal in Pennsylvania, but using cannabis for medical purposes was legalized throughout the state in 2016. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 22 July 2026 Also, as open-source models, developers can download the models for free and tweak them to suit their own purposes. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 17 July 2026 The cy pres doctrine prevents it from redirecting funds to other institutions, such as nearby public schools, or related purposes, such as college scholarships for low-income students. — Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 16 July 2026 And then it is found, resulting in a tug-of-war to retain and use it for very different reasons and purposes. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026 The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. — Brian Sloan,dan Avery, CNBC, 15 July 2026 However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 14 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposes
  1. goals
  2. roles
  3. plans
  4. objectives
  5. tasks
  6. intends
  7. aims
  8. functions
Noun
  • That total was only one higher than Chelsea’s record for the fewest goals conceded in an English football season (15).
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • McCabe said that one of the goals is to minimize impacts on homeowners and businesses that are along the route.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Definition of goals
Noun
  • There is little sense in trying to judge who brings more value by directly comparing their on-pitch output, given the two have been recruited to play very different roles.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • In his July memo, Blume said the company is considering axing a further 50,000 roles globally and closing four factories in Germany.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Definition of roles
Verb
  • With 35 years of international experience in the industry, Vignati plans to build more partnerships worldwide to create more visibility and opportunities for artists, audiences and the Charlotte community.
    — Catherine Muccigrosso July 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
  • According to The Hill, plans to participate in an opening ceremony for a new bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit have been canceled.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 July 2026
Definition of plans
Noun
  • If this is not possible, ensure the cash is placed in a high-yield savings account while next steps are discussed in line with the client's goals and objectives.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • SpaceX will run it back on Flight 13, shooting mostly for the same objectives that Flight 12 targeted — with a few notable exceptions.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of objectives
Noun
  • Robots need large amounts of such data to learn how people perform tasks and interact with their surroundings.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
  • Rearrange a schedule, automate a reminder, or create a small system that keeps bills, tasks, or energy from leaking through the cracks.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Definition of tasks
Verb
  • During the meeting, Ciesla and Board Trustee Tamara Reese told residents the demolition and re-development of the shopping center is a likely reality because the private owner has the right to sell the site and intends to do so.
    — Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • Artificial intelligence algorithms then analyze these signals to determine what action the user intends to perform.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
Definition of intends
Noun
  • On the eve of the conference, China launched its World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a new grouping of 29 countries, including Russia, Indonesia and Pakistan, friendly to China and its aims.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • This transition was perhaps inevitable as his children aged, Buffett said, who added that his children are capable of achieving the aims set out by their parents.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 July 2026
Definition of aims
Noun
  • The consensus is that for critical business functions, success depends on rigorously validated, specialized AI tailored to specific workflows, rather than broad, general-purpose solutions.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • These nutrients contribute to functions such as immune health, normal fluid balance, and maintaining healthy body processes.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
Definition of functions

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purposely
purposes
purposing
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Cite this Entry

“Purposes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposes. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of purposes for Spanish Speakers

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