purpose
Pluralpurposes
Pluralpurposes
Formspurposes, purposing, purposed
- 1The aim an action is meant to achieve, or the reason or function for which something is made or exists.
The purpose of the meeting was to settle the budget dispute.
Engineers debated what purpose each component served in the design.
UsageThe purpose of a plan is to do something; on purpose means deliberately; for tax purposes means as far as tax is concerned.
- 2A sense that one's life or actions carry meaning and direction.
Caring for the rescued animals gave him a renewed sense of purpose.
Many people find purpose through their relationships and their work.
UsageUsually no a: a sense of purpose, something gives your life purpose; a purpose is a specific goal.
Similarmeaning
- 3Firm determination or resolve to achieve something.
The team pursued the championship with unwavering purpose.
Her every move showed quiet purpose and resolve.
UsageUsually with purpose, often with an amount word: with great purpose, more purpose.
Similardetermination, resolve, resolution, drive, commitment
Oppositeindecision, irresolution
Note
Treated as a quality of manner rather than a goal, it comes in amounts. Phil McNulty's 2013 BBC Sport report says a team "began with more purpose," meaning it played with more drive and direction. Older English used it for a settled intention too. Letitia Landon's Francesca Carrara (1834) mentions "some purpose of marriage" between two people, meaning a firm plan to marry.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Phil McNulty's 2013 BBC Sport report describes a team as beginning with more purpose. bbc.co.uk
- Letitia Landon wrote Francesca Carrara. en.wikisource.org
- Francesca Carrara was first published in 1834. manuscripts.nls.uk
- Francesca Carrara contains the phrase 'some purpose of marriage' concerning an intended marriage between two people. en.wiktionary.org
Less common meanings
- 4To intend or plan to do something, having set it as one's aim.
Long before the war ended, the old poet had purposed to return to the valley where he was born, and he kept that vow.
Whatever trials may come, I purpose to stand by my word and keep faith with those who trusted me.
UsageTakes to + verb: purpose to write; in everyday English, intend to or plan to is the usual choice.
Note
A verb of declared intention, from Old French purposer, "to propose," the same root as the noun for an aim. Macaulay's History of England opens with "I purpose to write the history of England." Older prose also uses be purposed to, meaning "be resolved to," as in Malory's "So was Alisander purposed to ride to London."
- 5The subject of discussion; the matter at issue.
Note
Talk that was "to the purpose" kept to the matter at hand; talk "from the purpose" wandered off it. Shakespeare's Much Adoe about Nothing praises a man who speaks "plaine, and to the purpose," and Addison's narrator in 1711 dismisses a speech "so little to the purpose." This use is obsolete, so in older texts read the word in these phrases as "point" or "topic," not "aim."
- 6To talk or hold a conversation.
Note
The verb counterpart of the obsolete "topic" noun: to purpose was to talk or converse. In Spenser's Faerie Queene (1590), a woman overtakes travelers and "gan to bord, and purpose diuersly," accosting them and chatting on various things. Because the use is obsolete, it matters mainly when reading older texts. In modern writing the verb would be taken as "intend."
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- The obsolete verb purpose meant to talk or converse, corresponding semantically to the noun meaning 'topic'. en.wiktionary.org
- Edmund Spenser wrote The Faerie Queene, whose first three books were first published in 1590. en.wikisource.org
- A woman overtakes the travelers, and the narrator describes her with the quoted words. en.wikisource.org
- The passage uses purpose in the sense of conversing. en.wiktionary.org
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Middle English purpos, from Old French purposer ('to propose'), which was based on the Latin prōpōnere, formed from prō- ('forth') plus pōnere ('to place, put').
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Purpose comes from Middle English purpos. en.wiktionary.org
- The Old French source is purposer, meaning 'to propose'. en.wiktionary.org
- Old French purposer was based on Latin prōpōnere. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin prōpōnere combines prō- meaning 'forth' and pōnere meaning 'to place, put'. en.wiktionary.org
From Middle English purposen, from Old French purposer ('to propose').
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The verb purpose comes from Middle English purposen, from Old French purposer. en.wiktionary.org
- Old French purposer meant 'to propose'. en.wiktionary.org