Library / English Dictionary

PURPOSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose

Example:

he is a man of purpose

Synonyms:

determination; purpose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("purpose" is a kind of...):

firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve (the trait of being resolute)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purpose"):

doggedness; perseverance; persistence; persistency; pertinacity; tenaciousness; tenacity (persistent determination)

indefatigability; indefatigableness; tirelessness (tireless determination)

diligence; industriousness; industry (persevering determination to perform a task)

Derivation:

purpose (reach a decision)

purpose (propose or intend)

Sense 2

Meaning:

What something is used for

Example:

ballet is beautiful but what use is it?

Synonyms:

function; purpose; role; use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("purpose" is a kind of...):

usefulness; utility (the quality of being of practical use)

Attribute:

functional (designed for or capable of a particular function or use)

nonfunctional (not having or performing a function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purpose"):

raison d'etre (the purpose that justifies a thing's existence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

Example:

he made no secret of his designs

Synonyms:

aim; design; intent; intention; purpose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("purpose" is a kind of...):

end; goal (the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "purpose"):

idea; mind (your intention; what you intend to do)

cross-purpose (a contrary aim)

final cause ((philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process)

sake (the purpose of achieving or obtaining)

view (purpose; the phrase 'with a view to' means 'with the intention of' or 'for the purpose of')

will (a fixed and persistent intent or purpose)

Derivation:

purpose (propose or intend)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reach a decision

Example:

he resolved never to drink again

Synonyms:

purpose; resolve

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "purpose" is one way to...):

decide; determine; make up one's mind (reach, make, or come to a decision about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

purpose (the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Propose or intend

Example:

I aim to arrive at noon

Synonyms:

aim; propose; purport; purpose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "purpose" is one way to...):

intend; mean; think (have in mind as a purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

purpose (the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose)

purpose (an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions)

Credits

 Context examples: 

"I have wasted the charm of the Golden Cap to no purpose," she said, "for the Winged Monkeys cannot help me."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Use it for personal purposes, such as for a first date.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I called out several times, as loud as I could raise my voice, but all to no purpose.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I really believe his purpose is to be able to pray alone.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The purpose which now took possession of her was a natural one to a poor and ambitious girl, but the means she took to gain her end were not the best.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He was single-purposed, and entertained but one thought or desire at a time.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He swelled with some secret purpose, but would say no more.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At first, they were capable of nothing more to the purpose than such exclamations; but, after a while, Captain Wentworth, exerting himself, said—We must be decided, and without the loss of another minute.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

He seemed to think it too good for common purposes: it was the real sunshine of feeling—he shed it over me now.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I believe I was kept at home for that purpose.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)