Oxford Essential Dictionary
purpose
noun
the reason for doing something:
What is the purpose of your visit?
on purpose because you want to; not by accident same meaning deliberately:
'You've broken my pen!' 'I'm sorry, I didn't do it on purpose.'
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
purpose
pur‧pose S2 W2 /ˈpɜːpəs $ ˈpɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: purpose, purposefulness ≠ purposelessness; adverb: purposefully ≠ purposelessly, purposely; adjective: purposeful ≠ purposeless]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: purpos, from purposer 'to intend', from Latin proponere; ⇨ propound]
1. [countable] the purpose of something is what it is intended to achieve
purpose of
The purpose of this meeting is to elect a new chairman.
What is the purpose of your visit?
the purpose of doing something
The purpose of conducting a business is to make money.
for the purpose of doing something
Troops were sent solely for the purpose of assisting refugees.
for medical/political/decorative etc purposes
It should be legitimate to use cannabis for medical purposes.
sole/primary/main etc purpose
The protection of children is the primary purpose of this legislation.
serve a purpose (=achieve something)
It would serve no useful purpose to re-open the investigation.
2. [countable] a plan or aim:
Nick had no particular purpose in mind when he started.
sb’s purpose in doing something
Attending the race was not my purpose in coming to Indianapolis.
with the purpose of doing something
He came here with the purpose of carrying out the attack.
3. for ... purposes in a particular situation or when being considered in a particular way:
For tax purposes, you will be treated as a married couple.
The details are, for the present purposes, irrelevant.
for the purposes of something
For the purposes of this book, America is taken to include the continent north of Mexico.
4. on purpose deliberately
do something on purpose
You make it sound as if I did it on purpose!
5. FEELING [uncountable] a feeling of determination to achieve things in life:
It’s so important to have a sense of purpose that it underlies human happiness.
My football career was over and I had no purpose in life.
He possessed great strength of purpose.
6. for all practical purposes (also to all intents and purposes) used to say that something is so close to the truth that it can be considered to be the truth:
The war, to all intents and purposes, was over.
We have a Secretary of State for Scotland who is for all practical purposes a Scottish Prime Minister.
7. serve its purpose if something has served its purpose, it has done what you needed it to do:
We delete the data once it has served its purpose.
8. defeat the purpose to fail to achieve the result you want:
Anxiety will cause tension, which defeats the purpose of the exercise (=the activity or plan).
9. to no purpose formal without any useful results:
She called after them, but to no purpose.
10. to the purpose old-fashioned useful or helpful
⇨ ↑purposely, ↑cross-purposes
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ adjectives
▪ the main/primary purpose The main purpose of our trip to Arran was to see golden eagles.
▪ the sole purpose I used to bake cakes for the sole purpose of giving them away.
▪ the real purpose What was the real purpose of their visit?
▪ the whole purpose (=used for emphasis) The whole purpose of running a business is to make money.
▪ sth’s original purpose The building is no longer needed for its original purpose.
▪ a useful purpose Nuclear weapons serve no useful purpose and should be banned.
▪ a practical purpose These materials are too fine to have a practical purpose in daily life.
▪ a dual purpose (=two purposes) A dog can fulfil a dual purpose by providing both company and security.
▪ a common purpose (=one that people share) We were bound together by a common purpose.
▪ a specific/particular purpose Training is the acquisition of knowledge and skills for a specific purpose.
■ phrases
▪ for political/military/educational/medicinal etc purposes This technology could be used for military purposes.
▪ for business/research etc purposes About one in five of all trips are made for business purposes.
■ verbs
▪ have a purpose A meeting should have a clear purpose.
▪ serve/fulfil a purpose (=be used in a particular way) The building must have served a religious purpose. | Many old school buildings are no longer suitable for fulfilling their original purpose.
▪ achieve your purpose (=achieve what you wanted to achieve) She had achieved her purpose, at least in part.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ purpose the reason you do something, and the thing you want to achieve when you do it: What is the purpose of your visit to England? | The plant is used for medicinal purposes.
▪ aim what you want to achieve when you do something: The main aims of the project are as follows. | Their ultimate aim is to find a cure for cancer.
▪ goal something that you hope to achieve in the future, even though this may take a long time: It took Mandela over forty years to achieve his goal of a democratic South Africa. | the goal of ending child poverty
▪ objective something that you are working hard to achieve, especially in business or politics: The bank achieved its objective of increasing its share of the market. | The government’s long-term objective is to cut CO2 emissions by 50%.
▪ the object of something formal the specific purpose of an activity: The object of the game is to get as many points as possible. | The students will benefit, and that must be the object of the exercise (=the main thing that you are trying to do).
▪ the point the purpose of doing something and the reason why it is right or necessary: At fourteen, I couldn’t see the point of going to school. | What’s the point in waiting? (=I don’t think it is useful or necessary)
▪ intention the purpose that you have in your mind when you do something: He kept his real intentions well hidden. | Although we made a lot of money, this wasn’t our original intention.
▪ ends the result that someone is trying to achieve – used especially when you disapprove of what someone is doing: They are using religion for political ends. | The ends do not justify the means (=you should not use violence, cruelty, dishonest behaviour etc to achieve your aims).
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
purpose
pur·pose [purpose purposes purposed purposing] [ˈpɜːpəs] [ˈpɜːrpəs] noun
1. countable the intention, aim or function of sth; the thing that sth is supposed to achieve
• Our campaign's main purpose is to raise money.
• The purpose of the book is to provide a complete guide to the university.
• A meeting was called for the purpose of appointing a new treasurer.
• The experiments serve no useful purpose (= are not useful).
• The building is used for religious purposes.
2. purposes plural what is needed in a particular situation
• These gifts count as income for tax purposes.
• For the purposes of this study, the three groups have been combined.
3. countable, uncountable meaning that is important and valuable to you
• Volunteer work gives her life (a sense of) purpose.
4. uncountable the ability to plan sth and work successfully to achieve it
Syn: determination
• He has enormous confidence and strength of purpose.
see also cross purposes
more at to all intents and purposes at intent n., for (all) practical purposes at practical adj.
Idioms: no purpose ▪ on purpose
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French porpos, from the verb porposer, variant of proposer, from Latin proponere ‘set forth’ (from pro- ‘forward’ + ponere ‘put’).
Thesaurus:
purpose noun
1. C
• The main purpose of the campaign is to raise money.
aim • • objective • • object • • point • • idea • • goal • • target • • intention • • plan • • end • |formal law intent •
with the purpose/aim/objective/object/idea/goal/intention/intent of doing sth
sb's purpose/aim/intention/plan/intent that…
have a/an purpose/aim/objective/object/point/goal/target/intention/plan/intent
2. C
• The building is used for religious purposes.
function • • use •
a useful purpose/function
have a purpose/function/use
serve/fulfil a purpose/function
3. C, U
• Volunteer work gives her life a sense of purpose.
vocation • • mission •
find your purpose/vocation/mission
a sense of purpose/vocation/mission
sb's purpose/vocation/mission in life
Synonyms:
purpose
aim • intention • plan • point • idea
These are all words for talking about what sb/sth intends to do or achieve.
purpose • what sth is supposed to achieve; what sb is trying to achieve: ▪ Our campaign's main purpose is to raise money.
aim • what sb is trying to achieve; what sth is supposed to achieve: ▪ She went to London with the aim of finding a job. ◊ ▪ Our main aim is to increase sales in Europe.
purpose or aim?
Your purpose for doing something is your reason for doing it; your aim is what you want to achieve. Aim can suggest that you are only trying to achieve sth; purpose gives a stronger sense of achievement being certain. Aim can be sb's aim or the aim of sth. Purpose is more usually the purpose of sth: you can talk about sb's purpose but that is more formal.
intention • what you intend to do: ▪ I have no intention of going to the wedding. ◊ ▪ She's full of ▪ good intentions ▪ but they rarely work out.
plan • what you intend to do or achieve: ▪ There are no plans to build new offices.
intention or plan?
Your intentions are what you want to do, especially in the near future; your plans are what you have decided or arranged to do, often, but not always, in the longer term.
point • (rather informal) the purpose or aim of sth: ▪ What's the point ▪ of all this violence? ◊ ▪ The point of the lesson is to compare the two countries.
idea • (rather informal) the purpose of sth; sb's aim: ▪ The whole idea of going was so that we could meet her new boyfriend. ◊ ▪ What's the idea ▪ behind this?
point or idea?
Point is a more negative word than idea. If you say What's the point…? you are suggesting that there is no point; if you say What's the idea…? you are genuinely asking a question. Point, but not idea, is used to talk about things you feel annoyed or unhappy about: There's no idea in… ◊ I don't see the idea of….
with the purpose/aim/intention/idea of doing sth
sb's intention/plan to do sth
to have a(n) purpose/aim/intention/plan/point
to achieve/fulfil a(n) purpose/aim
Example Bank:
• Encouraged by her example, they all set to work with a fresh sense of purpose.
• For comparative purposes, the populations of three other cities are also shown.
• He slammed the door on purpose.
• I finally realized that we were talking at cross purposes.
• I put the chair there for a purpose.
• Let's assume he knows, for the purposes of our argument.
• Nominally she is the secretary, but for all practical purposes she runs the place.
• She saw being a doctor as her purpose in life.
• The cycling events will take place in a purpose-built 20 000-seater stadium.
• The drug can be sold for medicinal purposes only.
• The old mill has been put to good purpose.
• The plan achieved its primary purpose, if nothing else.
• The same information can be put to many purposes
• The school was founded with the express purpose of teaching deaf children to speak.
• These bars serve no useful purpose.
• They had great confidence and strength of purpose.
• You will need to have the vehicle valued for insurance purposes.
• a general-purpose cleaning fluid
• a group of individuals sharing a common purpose
• a measure introduced for the purpose of protecting the interests of investors
• a toy with the dual purpose of entertaining and developing memory skills
• the view that art should serve a social purpose
• For the purposes of this study, the three groups have been combined.
• He did not want anything to distract him from his purpose.
• He has enormous confidence and strength of purpose.
• Teachers need to give a purpose to the activities and assignments they give to students.
• The experiments serve no useful purpose.
• The main purpose of the campaign is to raise money.
• Volunteer work gives her life a sense of purpose.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
purpose / ˈpɜː.pəs / / ˈpɝː- / noun
B1 [ C ] why you do something or why something exists:
The purpose of the research is to try and find out more about the causes of the disease.
His only purpose in life seems to be to enjoy himself.
Her main/primary purpose in su ing the newspaper for libel was to clear her name.
I came to Brighton for/with the express purpose of see ing you.
Letters whose sole purpose is to make a political point will not be published.
She had the operation entirely for cosmetic purposes.
a multi-purpose kitchen knife
I can see no useful purpose in continuing this conversation.
All my efforts were to no purpose (= failed) .
He gave her a sum of money which she used to good purpose (= well) .
on purpose B1 If you do something on purpose, you do it intentionally, not by accident:
I didn't do it on purpose - it was an accident.
C2 [ U ] determination or a feeling of having a reason for what you do:
I've always admired her for her strength of purpose.
Parenthood would give him a sense of purpose.
[ C ] a need:
We haven't yet managed to find new premises that are suitable for our purposes.
The fabric I bought isn't exactly what I wanted, but it will serve my purposes (= fulfil my needs) .
serve a purpose C2 to have a use:
These small village shops serve a very useful purpose.
Word partners for purpose
have a purpose • the main / primary / real purpose • a clear / practical / useful purpose • a variety of purposes • the purpose of sth • for the purpose of sth • for [business/cosmetic/tax] purposes
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
purpose
[pɜ͟ː(r)pəs]
♦♦
purposes
1) N-COUNT: with supp The purpose of something is the reason for which it is made or done.
The purpose of the occasion was to raise money for medical supplies...
Various insurance schemes already exist for this purpose.
...the use of nuclear energy for military purposes...
He was asked about casualties, but said it would serve no purpose to count bodies...
Most of them are destroyed because they've served their purpose.
Syn:
aim
2) N-COUNT: with poss Your purpose is the thing that you want to achieve.
They might well be prepared to do you harm in order to achieve their purpose...
His purpose was to make a profit by improving the company's performance.
Syn:
aim, objective
3) N-UNCOUNT Purpose is the feeling of having a definite aim and of being determined to achieve it.
The teachers are enthusiastic and have a sense of purpose.
Syn:
resolve
4) → See also cross-purposes
5) PHRASE: PHR with cl You use for all practical purposes or to all intents and purposes to suggest that a situation is not exactly as you describe it, but the effect is the same as if it were.
For all practical purposes the treaty has already ceased to exist...
To all intents and purposes the case was closed.
Syn:
in effect, effectively
6) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something on purpose, you do it intentionally.
Was it an accident or did David do it on purpose?
Syn:
intentionally
Ant:
by mistake
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
purpose
pur·pose /ˈpɚpəs/ noun, pl -pos·es
1 [count] : the reason why something is done or used : the aim or intention of something
• The purpose of the new resort is to attract more tourists.
• There's little/no purpose in restarting the process. [=there is little/no reason to start the process again]
• These ancient mounds were probably used for ceremonial purposes. [=were probably used in ceremonies]
• Please keep a record of your receipts for tax/business purposes. [=for situations involving taxes/business]
• Everything on the boat serves a purpose. [=everything has a particular use or function]
• The loans are small but they serve a good purpose.
• We were happy to know that the money was being used for a good purpose. [=for something useful, important, etc.]
• She used her skills to (no) good purpose. [=she used her skills in a way that was (not) good or helpful]
• Changes had suddenly been made for no apparent purpose. [=for no clear reason]
• For the purpose(s) of this discussion, let's assume that sales will increase next year.
2 [noncount] : the feeling of being determined to do or achieve something
• She wrote with purpose. [=she knew exactly what she wanted to write]
• Sometimes his life seemed to lack purpose or meaning.
• He was a man of purpose. [=he was very clear about what he wanted to do and how to do it]
• We started work again with a renewed sense of purpose.
• He showed great strength of purpose. [=he showed that he was very determined to achieve his goals]
3 [count] : the aim or goal of a person : what a person is trying to do, become, etc.
• She knew from a young age that her sole purpose (in life) was to be a writer. [=she knew that all she wanted (in life) was to be a writer]
• We shared a common purpose. [=we had the same goals]
• He was searching for a higher purpose. [=a more meaningful reason to live, work, etc.]
for (all) practical purposes
- see 1practical
on purpose : in a way that is planned or intended : in a deliberate way
• Someone set the fire on purpose. [=purposely, intentionally]
• I knew she hadn't done it on purpose.
to/for all intents and purposes
- see 1intent
to the purpose old-fashioned : appropriate to the situation
• He didn't say much to the purpose. [=he didn't say much that was useful or helpful]