Definition of 'purpose'
Word forms: plural purposes
1. countable noun
The purpose of something is the reason for which it is made or done.
2. countable noun
Your purpose is the thing that you want to achieve.
3. uncountable noun
Purpose is the feeling of having a definite aim and of being determined to achieve it.
4.
See on purpose
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
purpose in American English
noun
2.
something one intends to get or do; intention; aim
3.
resolution; determination
4.
the object for which something exists or is done; end in view
SIMILAR WORDS: inˈtend, inˈtention
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
purpose in American English
(ˈpɜːrpəs) (verb -posed, -posing)
noun
1.
the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc
3.
determination; resoluteness
5.
practical result, effect, or advantage
to act to good purpose
6. See on purpose
7. See to the purpose
transitive verb
8.
to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself
9.
to intend; design
10.
to resolve (to do something)
He purposed to change his way of life radically
intransitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. object, point, rationale. See intention. 9. mean, contemplate, plan.11.
to have a purpose
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1250–1300; (n.) ME purpos ‹ OF, deriv. of purposer, var. of proposer to propose; (v.) ME purposen ‹ AF, OF purposer]Word Frequency
purpose in British English
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C13: from Old French porpos, from porposer to plan, from Latin prōpōnere to proposeExamples of 'purpose' in a sentence
purpose
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In other languages
purpose
British English: purpose
/ˈpɜːpəs/ NOUN
The purpose of something is the reason for which it is made or done.
What is the purpose of your visit?
- American English: purpose /ˈpɜrpəs/
- Arabic: غَرَض
- Brazilian Portuguese: propósito
- Chinese: 目的
- Croatian: svrha
- Czech: účel
- Danish: formål
- Dutch: doel bedoeling
- European Spanish: propósito
- Finnish: tarkoitus
- French: but
- German: Zweck
- Greek: σκοπός επιδίωξη
- Italian: scopo
- Japanese: 目的
- Korean: 목적
- Norwegian: formål
- Polish: cel
- European Portuguese: propósito
- Romanian: scop
- Russian: цель
- Spanish: propósito
- Swedish: syfte
- Thai: วัตถุประสงค์
- Turkish: amaç
- Ukrainian: мета
- Vietnamese: mục đích
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purpose
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purpose
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Definition of purpose from the Collins English Dictionary
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SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
sledge
golf ball
tennis ball
treadmill
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
golf ball
ice axe
tennis ball
dumbbell
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
discus
tennis ball
ice axe
tee
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
shuttlecock
discus
skipping rope
ice axe
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
goggles
puck
dumbbell
skipping rope
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