noun · verb · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈpɜːpəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, General-American:/ˈpɝpəs/
California:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ˈpɜːpəs/
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)pəs
New-Zealand:/ˈpøːpəs/
Hong-Kong:/ˈpɜ.pəs/
Hong-Kong, proscribed:/ˈpɜ.poʊs/
/ˈpʊː(ɹ)pəs/Dublin
CMU ARPABET:P ER1 P AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The end for which something is done, is made or exists.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
What is the purpose of your visit?
The device can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: end, point
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Function, role.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The exceptionally small gate-leg table served the purpose of a tea table admirably.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
meaning for existing or doing something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: Sense of having a
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: meaning
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Resolution; determination.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The subject of discourse; the point at issue.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To have or set as one's purpose or aim; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
1485 – Thomas Malory. Le Morte Darthur, Book X, Chapter xxxvi, leaf 235v Soo was Alysander purposed to ryde to london by the coūceille of sire Tristram to syre Launcelot / "So was Alisander purposed to ride to London, by the counsel of Sir Tristram, to Sir Launcelot."
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To have (an) intention, purpose, or design; to intend; to mean.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To discourse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his determination showed in his every movement
he is a man of purpose
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: determination
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: resoluteness, firmness, firmness of purpose, resolve, resolution
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his intent was to provide a new translation
good intentions are not enough
it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
he made no secret of his designs
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: intent, intention, aim, design
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: goal, end
Narrower terms: mind, idea, cross-purpose, final cause, sake, view, will
12
verb
Meaning 12
reach a decision
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he resolved never to drink again
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: resolve
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: decide, make up one's mind, determine
13
verb
Meaning 13
propose or intend
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I aim to arrive at noon
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: aim, purport, propose
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: intend, mean, think
History
Etymology
From Middle English purpos, from Old French purposer (“to propose”) (with conjugation altered based on poser), from Latin prō- (“forth”) + pōnere (“place, put”), hence Latin prōpōnō, prōpōnere. By surface analysis, pur- + pose (“halt, pause, put, place”).
From Middle English purposen, from Old French purposer (“to propose”).
Across languages
Translations
296 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
qëllim
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Albanian:
arsye
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Gheg Albanian:
psehe
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Arabic:
هَدَف
(hadaf)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Arabic:
مَقْصِد
(maqṣid)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Arabic:
مَقْصَد
(maqṣad)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Arabic:
غَايَة
(ḡāya)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Armenian:
նպատակ
(npatak)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Azerbaijani:
məqsəd
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Bashkir:
маҡсат
(maqsat)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Belarusian:
мэ́та
(méta)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Belarusian:
цэль
(celʹ)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Bengali:
মকসদ
(mokśod)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Bulgarian:
цел
(cel)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Catalan:
propòsit
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Chinese Mandarin:
目的
(mùdì)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Chinese Mandarin:
目標 /目标
(mùbiāo)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Ngazidja Comorian:
makswada
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Czech:
účel
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Czech:
cíl
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Danish:
mål
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Dutch:
reden
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Dutch:
doel
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Dutch:
bedoeling
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Dutch:
nut
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Dutch:
strekking
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Estonian:
eesmärk
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Estonian:
otstarve
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Finnish:
tarkoitus
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
French:
but
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
French:
objectif
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Georgian:
მიზანი
(mizani)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
German:
Zweck
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
German:
Ziel
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Gothic:
𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃
(leikains)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Greek:
σκοπός
(skopós)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Greek:
στόχος
(stóchos)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hebrew:
מַטָּרָה
(matará)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hindi:
अभिप्राय
(abhiprāy)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hindi:
मक़सद
(maqsad)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hindi:
हदफ़
(hadaf)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hindi:
निशाना
(niśānā)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hindi:
लक्ष्य
(lakṣya)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hungarian:
cél
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Hungarian:
szándék
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Icelandic:
meining
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Icelandic:
tilgangur
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Indonesian:
tujuan
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Irish:
cuspóir
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Italian:
proposito
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Italian:
finalità
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Italian:
scopo
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Italian:
obiettivo
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Japanese:
目的
(mokuteki)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Japanese:
目標
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Kazakh:
мақсат
(maqsat)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Khmer:
គោលបំណង
(kool bɑmnɑɑng)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Korean:
목적
(mokjeok)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Korean:
목표
(mokpyo)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Kyrgyz:
максат
(maksat)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Latin:
propositum
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Latvian:
nolūks
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Lithuanian:
tikslas
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Macedonian:
цел
(cel)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Malagasy:
tanjona
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Malay:
tujuan
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Māori:
hoaketanga
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Norwegian Bokmål:
mål
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Pashto:
هدف
(hadáf)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Pashto:
مقصد
(maqsád)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Iranian Persian:
هَدَف
(hadaf)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Iranian Persian:
مَقْصَد
(maġsad)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Iranian Persian:
نِشان
(nešân)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Polish:
cel
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Portuguese:
propósito
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Romanian:
scop
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Romanian:
rost
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Romanian:
țel
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Romanian:
țintă
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Russian:
цель
(celʹ)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Russian:
предназначе́ние
(prednaznačénije)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Sanskrit:
अर्थ
(artha)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Scottish Gaelic:
rùn
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Serbo-Croatian:
свр̀ха
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Serbo-Croatian:
ци̑љ
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Serbo-Croatian:
svr̀ha
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Serbo-Croatian:
cȋlj
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Slovak:
účel
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Slovak:
cieľ
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Slovene:
namen
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Slovene:
cilj
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Spanish:
propósito
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Swedish:
avsikt
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Swedish:
mening
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Swedish:
kall
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Tajik:
ҳадаф
(hadaf)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Tajik:
мақсад
(maqsad)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Tajik:
нишон
(nišon)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Tamil:
நோக்கம்
(nōkkam)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Tamil:
குறிக்கோள்
(kuṟikkōḷ)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Tatar:
максат
(maqsat)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Thai:
วัตถุประสงค์
(wát-tù-bprà-sǒng)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Thai:
เป้าหมาย
(bpâo-mǎai)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Turkish:
maksat
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Turkish:
hedef
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Turkmen:
maksat
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Ukrainian:
ціль
(cilʹ)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Ukrainian:
мета́
(metá)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Urdu:
مَقْصَد
(maqsad)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Urdu:
ہَدَف
(hadaf)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Uyghur:
مەقسەت
(meqset)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Uzbek:
maqsad
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Uzbek:
hadaf
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Uzbek:
nishon
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Vietnamese:
mục tiêu
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Vietnamese:
mục đích
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Yiddish:
צוועק
(tsvek)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Yiddish:
ציל
(tsil)
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Zazaki:
pêrpus
— end for which something is done, is made or exists
Zazaki:
meqsed
— end for which something is done, is made or exists