purpose

Examples

• All

• As men, we need purpose, mission and a team.

• It's not my purpose, it's the purpose for which I exist.

• And this will help you find your purpose faster and easier.

  Hafu Go

• I wanted to know the purpose of the soul itself.

  Evan Carmichael

• I mean, that was his purpose in his life.

• You have a purpose and you are loved.

  Dr. Mayim Bialik

• Who or what gives you a sense of purpose and meaning in life?

  Academic text (2013)

• Can you explain the purpose of breathing to all of us?

  Mel Robbins

• When a man sees his end... he wants to know there was some purpose to his life.

  Gladiator (2000)

• I checked his visa application, the purpose for travel was given as 'medical treatment'.

  Conclave (2024)

Synonyms

R

reason

vspurpose

∞ 1.0

A cause or explanation for something that happened

is the intended aim or use rather than causes or explanations

U

use

vspurpose

∞ 1.0

The purpose or job that something has

is the intended reason or aim for creating or doing something

G

goal

vspurpose

∞ 1.0

A result a person or group plans to achieve

is more about intended use or reason than the final result

P

point

vspurpose

∞ 2.1

The main reason or purpose of something

is the broader intended use or aim rather than just the meaning

E

end

vspurpose

808 1.0

The aim of a plan or action

covers intended use or reason rather than only the endpoint

I

intention

vspurpose

709 2.2

A plan or purpose for what you will do

is about the general intended use rather than a personal plan

M

motive

vspurpose

621 3.0

A reason, often hidden, that makes someone do something

is the general intended use or aim, not necessarily a personal driver

O

objective

vspurpose

509 3.7

A goal a person or group wants to achieve

is the wider idea of intended use or reason

I

intent

vspurpose

417 3.4

The reason someone does or says something

is about intended use or reason rather than communicative meaning

F

function

vspurpose

359 2.9

The job or purpose of something

focuses on intended use or reason rather than role or task

A

aim

vspurpose

205 1.0

A goal someone wants to reach

is broader, meaning the general reason or intended use

O

object

vspurpose

• Formal

85 3.7

A goal someone wants to reach

is the general intended use or reason rather than a narrow target

R

raison d'être

vspurpose

• Formal

9 8.8

The main reason a person or thing exists

is the general intended use or aim, not only the central reason

Antonyms

M

meaninglessness

4 7.6

A feeling that what you do has no purpose or value

A

aimlessness

1 7.0

A lack of clear purpose or direction

Idioms

O

on purpose

254 1.6

By choice, not by accident

Compounds

S

sense of purpose

22 3.5

A feeling of having a clear aim in life or work that gives you motivation

A

all-purpose

14 3.2

Can be used for many different things, like cooking or cleaning

G

general-purpose

4 3.9

Useful for many different tasks and situations

D

dual-purpose

1 4.4

Made to do two different things at the same time

D

defense purpose

• Formal

1 4.8

A reason for protecting a country or its people from attack

C

cross-purpose

1 5.8

A situation where people misunderstand each other and act in opposite ways

F

firmness of purpose

4.6

Strong determination to reach a goal and not give up

G

general-purpose bomb

• Specialized

4.4

A large explosive object that makes a strong blast and many flying pieces

How Specific

objective

509 3.7

goal

∞ 1.0

purpose

∞ 1.6

aim

205 1.0

reason

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology