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purpose

Pronunciation: /ˈpəːpəs/
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Definition of purpose

noun

  • 1the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists:the purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee the building is no longer needed for its original purpose
  • (usually purposes) a particular requirement or consideration, typically one that is temporary or restricted in scope or extent:state pensions are considered as earned income for tax purposes
  • 2 [mass noun] a person’s sense of resolve or determination:there was a new sense of purpose in her step as she set off

verb

[with object] formal
  • have as one’s intention or objective:God has allowed suffering, even purposed it

Phrases

accidentally on purpose

informal apparently by accident but in fact intentionally: it was not so easy for him to contrive to meet her accidentally on purpose

on purpose

intentionally:he was being annoying on purpose

to no purpose

with no result or effect; pointlessly: there’s no point in hanging about to no purpose

to the purpose

relevant or useful:you may have heard something from them which is to the purpose

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French porpos, from the verb porposer, variant of proposer (see propose)

Grammar

Adverbials and adverbial clauses can be used to provide information about why things occur—for what purpose they are done.AdverbialsThe commonest type of adverbial used to show purpose is a prepositional phrase beginning with for:I’ve always grown vegetables for pleasure or necessity. Adverbial clausesAdverbial clauses of purpose often begin with so that:She sat forward so that she could see into the car’s wing mirror. Infinitive clauses are also frequently used for this purpose, introduced by in order to, so as to, or just to:Someone may grab your collar with both hands in order to headbutt you in the face. In the example above in order to could be replaced by either so as to or to.

purpose in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of purpose in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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