Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [pur-puh s]
- /ˈpɜr pəs/
- /ˈpɜːpəs/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [pur-puh s]
- /ˈpɜr pəs/
Definitions of purpose word
- noun purpose the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc. 1
- noun purpose an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal. 1
- noun purpose determination; resoluteness. 1
- noun purpose the subject in hand; the point at issue. 1
- noun purpose practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose. 1
- verb with object purpose to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of purpose
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; (noun) Middle English purpos < Old French, derivative of purposer, variant of proposer to propose; (v.) Middle English purposen < Anglo-French, Old French purposer
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Purpose
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
purpose popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
purpose usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for purpose
verb purpose
- add up — If facts or events do not add up, they make you confused about a situation because they do not seem to be consistent. If something that someone has said or done adds up, it is reasonable and sensible.
- blueprinting — a process of photographic printing, used chiefly in copying architectural and mechanical drawings, which produces a white line on a blue background.
- break down — If a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working.
- chew over — If you chew something over, you keep thinking about it.
- cinched — a strong girth used on stock saddles, having a ring at each end to which a strap running from the saddle is secured.
noun purpose
- aim — If you aim for something or aim to do something, you plan or hope to achieve it.
- ambition — If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
- ambitiousness — having ambition; eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc.: ambitious students.
- application — An application for something such as a job or membership of an organization is a formal written request for it.
- assertiveness — confidently aggressive or self-assured; positive: aggressive; dogmatic: He is too assertive as a salesman.
adverb purpose
- aimlessly — without aim; purposeless.
- indiscriminately — not discriminating; lacking in care, judgment, selectivity, etc.: indiscriminate in one's friendships.
Antonyms for purpose
noun purpose
- emptiness — The state of containing nothing.
Top questions with purpose
- what is the purpose of adversary collection activities?
- what is the purpose of life?
- what was the purpose of the first continental congress?
- what is the purpose of mitosis?
- what was the purpose of the declaration of independence?
- what is the purpose of meiosis?
- what does purpose mean?
- what is my purpose?
- what is the purpose of cellular respiration?
- what is the purpose of government?
- what is the purpose of the bill of rights?
- what is the purpose of the preamble?
- what is author's purpose?
- what is the purpose of a punnett square?
- what was the purpose of the judiciary act of 1789?
See also
Matching words
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