Standard Lemma guide

purpose

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

Narrower terms: doggedness, perseverance, persistence, persistency, tenacity, tenaciousness, pertinacity, indefatigability, indefatigableness, tirelessness, diligence, industriousness, industry

10

noun

Meaning 10

what something is used for

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the function of an auger is to bore holes
  • ballet is beautiful but what use is it?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: function, role, use

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: utility, usefulness

Narrower terms: raison d'etre

11

noun

Meaning 11

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
  • Albanian: sunim — intention
  • Arabic: نِيَّة (niyya) — intention
  • Azerbaijani: niyyət — intention
  • Bashkir: ниәт (niət) — intention
  • Belarusian: наме́р (namjér) — intention
  • Belarusian: заме́р (zamjér) — intention
  • Bulgarian: намере́ние (namerénie) — intention
  • Catalan: propòsit — intention
  • Catalan: intenció — intention
  • Chechen: ойла (ojla) — intention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 意向 (yìxiàng) — intention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 意圖 /意图 (yìtú) — intention
  • Czech: úmysl — intention
  • Czech: záměr — intention
  • Danish: mening — intention
  • Danish: intention — intention
  • Dutch: intentie — intention
  • Dutch: bedoeling — intention
  • Dutch: opzet — intention
  • Esperanto: intenco — intention
  • French: intention — intention
  • German: Intention — intention
  • German: Absicht — intention
  • Greek: σκοπός (skopós) — intention
  • Greek: πρόθεση (próthesi) — intention
  • Ancient Greek: δῐᾰ́νοιᾰ (dĭắnoiă) — intention
  • Ancient Greek: πρόθεσις (próthesis) — intention
  • Hebrew: כוונה \ כַּוָּנָה (kavaná) — intention
  • Hindi: इच्छा (icchā) — intention
  • Hindi: चाह (cāh) — intention
  • Hindi: कामना (kāmnā) — intention
  • Hungarian: szándék — intention
  • Italian: intenzione — intention
  • Italian: intento — intention
  • Japanese: 意図 (ito) — intention
  • Japanese: 意向 (ikō) — intention
  • Korean: 의도 (uido) — intention
  • Korean: 목적 (mokjeok) — intention
  • Latin: propositum — intention
  • Macedonian: намера (namera) — intention
  • Malagasy: fikasana — intention
  • Māori: koronga — intention
  • Polish: intencja — intention
  • Portuguese: propósito — intention
  • Portuguese: intenção — intention
  • Portuguese: objetivo — intention
  • Romanian: rost — intention
  • Romanian: obiectiv — intention
  • Romanian: intenție — intention
  • Russian: наме́рение (namérenije) — intention
  • Scottish Gaelic: rùn — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: на̑мера — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: на̑мјера — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: nȃmera — intention
  • Serbo-Croatian: nȃmjera — intention
  • Slovak: zámer — intention
  • Slovak: účel — intention
  • Slovene: namen — intention
  • Spanish: propósito — intention
  • Spanish: intención — intention
  • Spanish: objetivo — intention
  • Swedish: avsikt — intention
  • Swedish: mening — intention
  • Tamil: குறிக்கோள் (kuṟikkōḷ) — intention
  • Tamil: நோக்கம் (nōkkam) — intention
  • Ottoman Turkish: مقصد (maksad) — intention
  • Ottoman Turkish: هدف (hedef) — intention
  • Ottoman Turkish: غایه (gaye) — intention
  • Ukrainian: на́мір (námir) — intention
  • Yiddish: צוועק (tsvek) — intention
  • Zazaki: niyet — intention
  • Azerbaijani: əzm — determination
  • Azerbaijani: qətiyyət — determination
  • Azerbaijani: səbat — determination
  • Bulgarian: реши́телност (rešítelnost) — determination
  • Dutch: vastberadenheid — determination
  • French: détermination — determination
  • Hebrew: נְחִישׁוּת (nekhishút) — determination
  • Hindi: संकल्पित (saṅkalpit) — determination
  • Hindi: लक्षित (lakṣit) — determination
  • Hungarian: eltökéltség — determination
  • Hungarian: céltudatosság — determination
  • Hungarian: elszántság — determination
  • Italian: determinazione — determination
  • Italian: decisione — determination
  • Italian: risoluzione — determination
  • Korean: 결심 (gyeolsim) — determination
  • Korean: 결의 (gyeorui) — determination
  • Polish: zamiar — determination
  • Romanian: determinare — determination
  • Russian: реши́мость (rešímostʹ) — determination
  • Russian: реши́тельность (rešítelʹnostʹ) — determination
  • Russian: упо́рство (upórstvo) — determination
  • Scottish Gaelic: rùn — determination
  • Serbo-Croatian: на̑мера — determination
  • Serbo-Croatian: на̑мјера — determination
  • Serbo-Croatian: nȃmera — determination
  • Serbo-Croatian: nȃmjera — determination
  • Spanish: decisión — determination
  • Spanish: determinación — determination
  • Spanish: resolución — determination
  • Swedish: mening — determination
  • Zazaki: ezm — determination
  • Zazaki: qetiyen — determination
  • French: sujet — subject of discourse
  • French: propos — subject of discourse
  • German: Thema — subject of discourse
  • Hebrew: נוֹשֵׂא (nosé) — subject of discourse
  • Italian: argomento — subject of discourse
  • Italian: soggetto — subject of discourse
  • Korean: 논점 (nonjeom) — subject of discourse
  • Korean: 론점 (ronjeom) — subject of discourse
  • Korean: 논지 (nonji) — subject of discourse
  • Korean: 론지 (ronji) — subject of discourse
  • Korean: 논쟁점 (nonjaengjeom) — subject of discourse
  • Polish: temat — subject of discourse
  • Polish: zagadnienie — subject of discourse
  • Romanian: subiect — subject of discourse
  • Romanian: temă — subject of discourse
  • Russian: те́ма (téma) — subject of discourse
  • Spanish: tema — subject of discourse
  • Spanish: objeto — subject of discourse
  • Zazaki: tema (diq) — subject of discourse
  • Arabic: سَبَب (sabab) — reason for doing something
  • Bulgarian: моти́в (motív) — reason for doing something
  • Danish: grund — reason for doing something
  • Dutch: reden — reason for doing something
  • Dutch: nut — reason for doing something
  • Dutch: zin — reason for doing something
  • Esperanto: celo — reason for doing something
  • German: Grund — reason for doing something
  • Greek: λόγος (lógos) — reason for doing something
  • Greek: αιτία (aitía) — reason for doing something
  • Hebrew: סיבה \ סִבָּה (sibá) — reason for doing something
  • Hebrew: מוֹטִיבַצְיָה (motivátsya) — reason for doing something
  • Hungarian: értelem — reason for doing something
  • Italian: proposito — reason for doing something
  • Korean: 의도 (uido) — reason for doing something
  • Korean: 목적 (mokjeok) — reason for doing something
  • Latin: propositum — reason for doing something
  • Malagasy: antony — reason for doing something
  • Māori: aronga — reason for doing something
  • Polish: powód — reason for doing something
  • Portuguese: propósito — reason for doing something
  • Romanian: cauză — reason for doing something
  • Romanian: motiv — reason for doing something
  • Romanian: rost — reason for doing something
  • Russian: цель (celʹ) — reason for doing something
  • Russian: моти́в (motív) — reason for doing something
  • Russian: причи́на (pričína) — reason for doing something
  • Spanish: propósito — reason for doing something
  • Spanish: objeto — reason for doing something
  • Spanish: razón — reason for doing something
  • Ukrainian: на́мір (námir) — reason for doing something
  • Zazaki: sebeb — reason for doing something
  • Bulgarian: възнамерявам (vǎznamerjavam) — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Dutch: van plan zijn — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Faroese: ætla — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • German: beabsichtigen — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • German: planen — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • German: vorschlagen — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Greek: σκοπεύω (skopévo) — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Hebrew: מתכוון (mitkavén) — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Hungarian: szándékol — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Hungarian: tervez — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Icelandic: ætla — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Korean: 의도하다 (uidohada) — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Korean: 뜻하다 (tteuthada) — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Korean: 마음먹다 (ma'eummeokda) — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Portuguese: propor-se — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Romanian: intenționa — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Russian: намерева́ться (namerevátʹsja) — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Spanish: proponerse — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Swedish: föreslå — have set as one's purpose; intend
  • Bulgarian: предназначавам (prednaznačavam) — passive: design for some purpose
  • Russian: служи́ть це́лью (služítʹ célʹju) — passive: design for some purpose
Real reading context

purpose in complete knowledge articles