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 role
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
Sure, there’s the intimation of a world gone to pieces, whether from a quantum apocalypse or an ecological catastrophe; there’s the presentation of a modern self, stripped of its qualities and evacuated of purpose. —Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026 Between 1990 and 1992, NASA's Magellan orbiter mapped much of Venus' surface using a radar system specifically designed for that purpose, producing a vast archive of images that researchers continue to analyze. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026 With a deep commitment to gender inclusion and diversity, Raya continues to build workplaces where purpose and performance grow together. —CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purpose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purpose
  1. goal
  2. role
  3. plan
  4. aim
  5. task
  6. intend
  7. intention
  8. job
Noun
  • If your goal is to get at the truth, or at least our closest approximation of it at the present time, the way to do that is to be scrupulous and forthright about the strengths and weaknesses of every link in your chain of argument.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The goal of any action, however, remains something of a mystery.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of goal
Noun
  • Baseball owners, with Dick Monfort playing a prominent role as a hawk in labor negotiations, are expected to lock out the players after this season, seeking a salary cap, believing that is the only reason the Dodgers win.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Safety and security also play a role, from a home free of hazards to AI phone scams that are becoming more prevalent among older generations.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Definition of role
Verb
  • The Chinese government reacted by telling Chinese citizens not to travel to Japan, threatening economic retaliation, and pulling the plug on meetings that were long planned, putting a pretty deep freeze on China-Japan relations.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Piagentini said Republicans plan to obtain and publish Davis’ shock probation decisions online so voters can better understand her rulings.
    — Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of plan
Noun
  • In creating the following list of books to be classed under the heading of essential Afghan reading, my aim was to highlight books that focus on the human.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Seizing on the frigid weather, Russia has launched an all-out assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with the apparent aim of keeping up pressure amid ongoing peace negotiations—and sapping public morale.
    — Michael Holtz, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of aim
Noun
  • Strazik’s task is to build a distinct culture for a much more focused business, at a very different time, while driving growth at a pace that GE struggled to find for years after Welch stepped down.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Rebuilding Altadena Times contributor Sam Lubell wrote a comprehensive piece about the rebuilding of Altadena’s community spaces and parks in the wake of the Eaton fire, a task that has attracted the talent and attention of Disney Imagineers and Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of task
Verb
  • This message is not intended to shame or judge anyone.
    — Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Its reduced weight and compact architecture are intended to support rapid relocation after firing, allowing the launcher to limit exposure to counter-battery fire.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of intend
Noun
  • Landing in Forum, known for championing formally ambitious and politically challenging cinema, aligned with Anwar’s intentions.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Even if all these sunny promises are enshrined in contracts, built into budgets, and consecrated with good intentions, there are still plenty of ways the whole project could go kerflooey.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of intention
Noun
  • Suffice to say, Macdonald has more than done his job.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
  • At this point in his presidency four years ago, Democrat Joe Biden’s job rating was tumbling.
    — Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 9 Feb. 2026
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 14 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

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

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

What does 'etcetera' mean?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?

Why Is the Letter ‘Z’ Associated With Sleeping?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 13

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?
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
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All