Synonyms for purpose
ˈpɜr pəs

Princeton's WordNet(3.85 / 7 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. purpose, intent, intention, aim, design(noun)

   an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

   "his intent was to provide a new translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs"; "he made no secret of his designs"

   Synonyms:
   intention, objective, use, design, determination, aim, designing, figure, role, purport, function, excogitation, conception, pattern, spirit, blueprint, object, intent, invention, target, innovation, bearing, plan, heading

2. function, purpose, role, use(noun)

   what something is used for

   "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?"

   Synonyms:
   utilisation, habit, usage, routine, role, social occasion, manipulation, theatrical role, use of goods and services, procedure, function, occasion, character, subroutine, part, determination, aim, usance, enjoyment, subprogram, employment, mapping, use, consumption, single-valued function, persona, intention, economic consumption, intent, social function, exercise, affair, office, mathematical function, map, utilization, design

3. determination, purpose(verb)

   the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose

   "his determination showed in his every movement"; "he is a man of purpose"

   Synonyms:
   role, determination, conclusion, function, intention, use, aim, design, finding, intent, decision

4. aim, purpose, purport, propose(verb)

   propose or intend

   "I aim to arrive at noon"

   Synonyms:
   suggest, aim, shoot for, place, pop the question, draw a bead on, aspire, drive, advise, purport, declare oneself, take aim, project, propose, resolve, direct, train, get, take, target, calculate, nominate, point, offer

5. purpose, resolve(verb)

   reach a decision

   "he resolved never to drink again"

   Synonyms:
   decide, propose, settle, break up, solve, aim, purport, dissolve, conclude, answer, adjudicate, resolve

English Synonyms and Antonyms(4.75 / 4 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. purpose

   The aim is the direction in which one shoots, or sometimes that which is aimed at. The mark is that at which one shoots; the goal, that toward which one runs. All alike indicate the direction of endeavor. The end is the point at which one expects or hopes to close his labors; the object, that which he would grasp as the reward of his labors. Aspiration, design, endeavor, purpose, referring to the mental acts by which the aim is attained, are often used as interchangeable with aim. Aspiration applies to what are viewed as noble aims; endeavor, design, intention, purpose, indifferently to the best or worst. Aspiration has less of decision than the other terms; one may aspire to an object, and yet lack the fixedness of purpose by which alone it can be attained. Purpose is stronger than intention. Design especially denotes the adaptation of means to an end; endeavor refers to the exertions by which it is to be attained. One whose aims are worthy, whose aspirations are high, whose designs are wise, and whose purposes are steadfast, may hope to reach the goal of his ambition, and will surely win some object worthy of a life's endeavor. Compare AMBITION; DESIGN.

   Synonyms:
   aim, aspiration, design, determination, end, end, endeavor, endeavor, goal, inclination, intent, intention, mark, object, tendency

   Antonyms:
   aimlessness, avoidance, carelessness, heedlessness, neglect, negligence, oversight, purposelessness, thoughtlessness

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms(3.25 / 4 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. purpose(v)

   Synonyms:
   intend, determine, design, resolve, mean, propose

   Antonyms:
   chance, risk, hazard, revoke, miscalculate, venture, stake

2. purpose(n)

   Synonyms:
   intention, design, mind, meaning, view, object, aim, end, scope, point, resolve

   Antonyms:
   chance, fortune, fate, accident, hazard, lot, casualty, lottery, hit

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. mission

   many companies begin their existence with a "mission statement" it is their purpose for existence.

   "i think that you have gotten off the track of your initial mission and need to re-think your strategy."

   Submitted by JP03 on January 19, 2015  

2. ikigai

   Submitted by anonymous on April 19, 2020  

3. telos

   telos means the ultimate end or purpose of something.

   Submitted by JP03 on March 26, 2015  

Dictionary of English Synonymes(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. purpose(n.)

   Synonyms:
   aim, intent, intention, design, object, end, drift, view, final cause

2. purpose(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   intend, design, mean, meditate, think of, have in mind, resolve upon, propose to one's self

3. purpose(v. n.)

   Synonyms:
   intend, design, mean, have in mind

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. purpose(n)

   Synonyms:
   aim, object, design, intent, goal, view, drift

2. purpose(v)

   Synonyms:
   intend, design, contemplate

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these paraphrases:

1. List of paraphrases for "purpose":

   purposes, goal, aim, objective, end, object, order, effect, subject, intent, target, intention, view, intended, objectives, effects, goals, aims, subject-matter, re, fin, uses, impact, finality, use, destination, reason

How to pronounce purpose?

Alex

US English

Daniel

British

Karen

Australian

Veena

Indian

How to say purpose in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use purpose in a sentence?

1. Anita McBride:

   When I said,' Just say no,' it was an answer to a question by a child in a classroom, now, I didn't mean that was the whole answer, obviously, but it served a purpose.

2. Mike Pompeo:

   I think there is a shared understanding of threat and a common purpose to ensure to keep energy at the right price and deter this threat.

3. Michael Shanahan:

   The purpose of it was to call attention to the United States concerning our campaign finance laws, or the lack thereof.

4. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley:

   Nothing contributes so much to tranquilizing the mind as a steady purpose -- a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

5. Laura Kubzansky:

   For physical health, it's not so much happiness per se, but this ability to regulate and have a sense of purpose and meaning.

Images & Illustrations of purpose