a higher purpose

noun

: a more meaningful reason to live, work, etc.
He was searching for a higher purpose.

Examples of a higher purpose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But Joyce’s job at the pet store served a higher purpose. — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Searching for a higher purpose or truth? — Usa Today, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025 Ground your pitch in a higher purpose, showing how the work will make a positive difference and drive the business forward. — Robert Hogeboom, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 At its core, skimo speaks to a higher purpose—moving with speed and efficiency through rugged, sometimes dangerous terrain. — Nick Heil, Outside, 15 Jan. 2016 See All Example Sentences for a higher purpose

Rhymes for a higher purpose

See All Rhymes for a higher purpose

Browse Nearby Words

ahigh
a higher purpose
a hill of beans
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“A higher purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20higher%20purpose. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All