purpose JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˈpɜːpəs/ · pur·pose
noun
  1. An objective to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal. Her purpose in studying medicine was to help underserved communities.
  2. A result that is desired; an intention. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize the budget for next year.
  3. The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination. He approached the project with great purpose, refusing to give up.
verb
  1. To intend; to have as a purpose. She purposefully avoided the topic to keep the conversation light.
Did you know? The word ‘purpose’ shares its Latin root with ‘propose’; both originally meant ‘to put forward’ a thing for consideration.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 14, 2026