purpose 1 of 2

noun

ˈpər-pəs How to pronounce purpose (audio)
Definition of purposenext
1
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish the purpose of the research is to discover how the virus is transmitted

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in task
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists still trying to discover her purpose in life

Synonyms & Similar Words

purpose

2 of 2

verb

as in to plan
to have in mind as a purpose or goal I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun purpose contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of purpose are aim, design, end, goal, intention, intent, objective, and object. While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

Where would aim be a reasonable alternative to purpose?

The meanings of aim and purpose largely overlap; however, aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

When would design be a good substitute for purpose?

While the synonyms design and purpose are close in meaning, design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

When might end be a better fit than purpose?

While in some cases nearly identical to purpose, end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

When can goal be used instead of purpose?

In some situations, the words goal and purpose are roughly equivalent. However, goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

When is intent a more appropriate choice than purpose?

The words intent and purpose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

When is it sensible to use intention instead of purpose?

Although the words intention and purpose have much in common, intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

How do object and end relate to one another, in the sense of purpose?

Object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

In what contexts can objective take the place of purpose?

The synonyms objective and purpose are sometimes interchangeable, but objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purpose
Noun
Can religion still have purpose for those of us who don’t believe? —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 June 2025 Zen and purpose Zheng, a first-generation Chinese immigrant, grew up on matcha, and credits the tea with helping bring her zen in an otherwise chaotic, entrepreneurial schedule. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 31 May 2025 However, TVLine may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Being a cord-cutter isn’t an excuse for cutting yourself off from the news. —Claire Franken, TVLine, 31 May 2025 This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or cryptocurrency advice. —William Jones, USA Today, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for purpose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purpose
  1. goal
  2. task
  3. plan
  4. aim
  5. role
  6. intend
  7. intention
  8. job
Noun
  • But Bennett’s goal would not keep the Panthers ahead for long.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
  • Above all, your professional style should align with your goals, London says — both inside and outside the workplace.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Definition of goal
Noun
  • The report found that instead, AI can enrich automatable jobs by freeing up employees from tedious tasks to practice more complex skills and decision making.
    — Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 6 June 2025
  • Baking Soda Lowe's has plenty of household basics, like baking soda, which comes in handy during many cleaning tasks.
    — Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 6 June 2025
Definition of task
Verb
  • Multiyear commitments give nonprofits the runway to plan, build and grow.
    — Victoria Philips, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The reservation platform OpenTable reports 52% of consumers planned to go it alone at restaurants in 2025.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2025
Definition of plan
Noun
  • During this period, Hamas emerged as a powerful splinter of the Muslim Brotherhood movement with the aim of destroying Israel and establishing an Islamist Palestinian state.
    — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
  • Many believe the aim of his blatant attack on democracy is to escape his bribery, fraud, and breach of trust court case.
    — Ehud Barak, Time, 2 June 2025
Definition of aim
Noun
  • Though she's been a part of some of the entire franchise's most epic confrontations and conflagrations, Smiley, who proposed to Rossi in 2013, has played an arguably even more pivotal role in shaping the course of the Housewives' oldest installment.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 6 June 2025
  • Sociodemographic influences Empirical data suggest sociodemographic factors play a significant role in air rage incidents.
    — Milad Haghani, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
Definition of role
Verb
  • Going forward, the owners intend to integrate Vinyl Me, Please with its VinylBox and VNYL brands as a sister operation specializing in premium audio.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 June 2025
  • The move was intended to boost subscriptions to then-fledgling HBO Max.
    — Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
Definition of intend
Noun
  • Wealth doesn’t just happen; it is built with intention.
    — Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • The dress moves like a line thought out to the end, firmly, with intention, leaving no room for excess.
    — Alex Sales, Glamour, 31 May 2025
Definition of intention
Noun
  • Kelley, of Downtown Railyard Venture, said the financing plan allows for the public infrastructure needed to support housing, jobs, transit and amenities in the district.
    — Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
  • The front camera did a fine job of taking this selfie of my dog in low light.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
Definition of job

Phrases Containing purpose

Browse Nearby Words

purports
purpose
purposed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purpose. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on purpose

Nglish: Translation of purpose for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Some Data About 'Datum'

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All