Purpose
noun
The reason why something is done or created.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the budget
Often appears as...
- serve a purpose
- for the purpose of
noun
A person's determination or resolve.
With purpose, she set about cleaning the entire house
Often appears as...
- with purpose
- sense of purpose
noun
The action of intending to do something.
The funds were collected for the purpose of aiding the homeless
Often appears as...
- for the purpose
- with the purpose
Usage tips
General, Academic
verb
Intend or plan to do something.
He purposed to leave the next morning
Often appears as...
- purposed to do
- purposed that
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
noun
The reason why something is done or created.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the budget
Often appears as...
- serve a purpose
- for the purpose of
noun
A person's determination or resolve.
With purpose, she set about cleaning the entire house
Often appears as...
- with purpose
- sense of purpose
noun
The action of intending to do something.
The funds were collected for the purpose of aiding the homeless
Often appears as...
- for the purpose
- with the purpose
Usage tips
General, Academic
verb
Intend or plan to do something.
He purposed to leave the next morning
Often appears as...
- purposed to do
- purposed that
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
The word 'purpose' changes meaning depending on the situation and what it's referring to.
The purpose of a knife is to cut.
Pro Tip 2/3Common Phrases
'Purpose' is often used with phrases like 'on purpose' to indicate intent, not accidentally.
She ignored him on purpose.
Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Use
People often talk about 'life's purpose', which is a philosophical idea of life's meaning.
Many search for their life's purpose.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
The word 'purpose' changes meaning depending on the situation and what it's referring to.
The purpose of a knife is to cut.
Pro Tip 2/3Common Phrases
'Purpose' is often used with phrases like 'on purpose' to indicate intent, not accidentally.
She ignored him on purpose.
Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Use
People often talk about 'life's purpose', which is a philosophical idea of life's meaning.
Many search for their life's purpose.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
The word 'purpose' changes meaning depending on the situation and what it's referring to.
The purpose of a knife is to cut.
Pro Tip 2/3Common Phrases
'Purpose' is often used with phrases like 'on purpose' to indicate intent, not accidentally.
She ignored him on purpose.
Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Use
People often talk about 'life's purpose', which is a philosophical idea of life's meaning.
Many search for their life's purpose.
Never forget "Purpose"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Who were the Vestal...
When she performs sacrifices, she focuses intently on the task. Licinia directs her energy towards being the best priestess she can be. She's worried that someday the state will claim her life for its own purposes to protect itself from danger. Licinia could be accused of incestum, meaning unchastity,
Video examples
Why do we love? A...
or a trick of biology to make us procreate? Is it all we need? Do we need it at all? If romantic love has a purpose, neither science nor psychology has discovered it yet. But over the course of history, some of our most respected philosophers have put forward some intriguing theories.
Video examples
Why do we itch? - Emma...
But is there actually an evolutionary purpose to the itch, or is it simply there to annoy us? The leading theory is that our skin has evolved to be acutely aware of touch so that we're equipped to deal with risks from the outside world. Think about it.
Video examples
It's a church. It's a...
to return the building to its former religious purposes. The story of the divine wisdom may be far from over, but one can only hope that the many voices residing there will be able to tell their part for years to come.
Video examples
Born to sing PIPE Taylor...
my greatest salvation my greatest tool my voice saved my life my voice gave me a life it gave me a purpose it showed me a way out of the chaos of my home my voice gave me a reason to push through
Video examples
How does caffeine keep...
But it can also raise our blood pressure, and make us feel anxious. It's the world most widely used drug. So how does it keep us awake? Caffeine evolved in plants where it serves a few purposes.
Video examples
Stanley McChrystal:...
he said, "Sir, I was in the sixth grade." And it reminded me that we're operating a force that must have shared purpose and shared consciousness, and yet he has different experiences,
Video examples
Why do your knuckles...
Synovial fluid is more or less the texture of egg yolk and its primary purpose is to cushion the bones and help them glide past each other. It also contains phagocytic cells
Video examples
Best Of Ants PIPE BBC Earth
all ant workers are female and sterile unable to reproduce themselves their sole purpose in life is to serve the queens
Video examples
Own the Room PIPE Official...
i believe that we were all brought into this universe for purpose you exist for a very definite reason
Video examples
Who were the Vestal...
When she performs sacrifices, she focuses intently on the task. Licinia directs her energy towards being the best priestess she can be. She's worried that someday the state will claim her life for its own purposes to protect itself from danger. Licinia could be accused of incestum, meaning unchastity,
Video examples
Why do we love? A...
or a trick of biology to make us procreate? Is it all we need? Do we need it at all? If romantic love has a purpose, neither science nor psychology has discovered it yet. But over the course of history, some of our most respected philosophers have put forward some intriguing theories.
Video examples
Why do we itch? - Emma...
But is there actually an evolutionary purpose to the itch, or is it simply there to annoy us? The leading theory is that our skin has evolved to be acutely aware of touch so that we're equipped to deal with risks from the outside world. Think about it.
Video examples
It's a church. It's a...
to return the building to its former religious purposes. The story of the divine wisdom may be far from over, but one can only hope that the many voices residing there will be able to tell their part for years to come.
Video examples
Born to sing PIPE Taylor...
my greatest salvation my greatest tool my voice saved my life my voice gave me a life it gave me a purpose it showed me a way out of the chaos of my home my voice gave me a reason to push through
Video examples
How does caffeine keep...
But it can also raise our blood pressure, and make us feel anxious. It's the world most widely used drug. So how does it keep us awake? Caffeine evolved in plants where it serves a few purposes.
Video examples
Stanley McChrystal:...
he said, "Sir, I was in the sixth grade." And it reminded me that we're operating a force that must have shared purpose and shared consciousness, and yet he has different experiences,
Video examples
Why do your knuckles...
Synovial fluid is more or less the texture of egg yolk and its primary purpose is to cushion the bones and help them glide past each other. It also contains phagocytic cells
Video examples
Best Of Ants PIPE BBC Earth
all ant workers are female and sterile unable to reproduce themselves their sole purpose in life is to serve the queens
Video examples
Own the Room PIPE Official...
i believe that we were all brought into this universe for purpose you exist for a very definite reason
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
George Bernard Shaw
Irish Playwright
If you're not producing as much as you consume, or perhaps a little more, then clearly we cannot use the big organization of our society for the purpose of keeping you alive, because your life does not benefit us, and it can't be of very much use to yourself.
Quote examples
George Harrison
British Musician
Basically, I feel fortunate to have realized what the goal is in life. There's no point in dying having gone through your life without knowing who you are, what you are, or what the purpose of life is. And that's all it is.
Quote examples
George W. Bush
American President
Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
Loving others always costs us something and requires effort. And you have to decide to do it on purpose. You can't wait for a feeling to motivate you.
Quote examples
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
German Writer
Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it.
Quote examples
Pablo Picasso
Spanish Painter
The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.
Quote examples
John F. Kennedy
American President
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.
Quote examples
Saint Augustine
Saint
The purpose of all wars, is peace.
Quote examples
George Bernard Shaw
Irish Playwright
If you're not producing as much as you consume, or perhaps a little more, then clearly we cannot use the big organization of our society for the purpose of keeping you alive, because your life does not benefit us, and it can't be of very much use to yourself.
Quote examples
George Harrison
British Musician
Basically, I feel fortunate to have realized what the goal is in life. There's no point in dying having gone through your life without knowing who you are, what you are, or what the purpose of life is. And that's all it is.
Quote examples
George W. Bush
American President
Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
Loving others always costs us something and requires effort. And you have to decide to do it on purpose. You can't wait for a feeling to motivate you.
Quote examples
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
German Writer
Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it.
Quote examples
Pablo Picasso
Spanish Painter
The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.
Quote examples
John F. Kennedy
American President
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.
Quote examples
Saint Augustine
Saint
The purpose of all wars, is peace.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension