What is another word for purpose?
Synonyms for purpose
ˈpɜr pəspur·pose
This thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word purpose.
English Synonyms and Antonyms
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, tendencyAntonyms:
aimlessness, avoidance, carelessness, heedlessness, neglect, negligence, oversight, purposelessness, thoughtlessness
Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms
purposeverb
Synonyms:
intend, determine, design, resolve, mean, proposeAntonyms:
chance, risk, hazard, revoke, miscalculate, venture, stakepurposenoun
Synonyms:
intention, design, mind, meaning, view, object, aim, end, scope, point, resolveAntonyms:
chance, fortune, fate, accident, hazard, lot, casualty, lottery, hit
Princeton's WordNet
purpose, intent, intention, aim, designnoun
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, headingfunction, purpose, role, usenoun
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, designdetermination, purposeverb
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, decisionaim, purpose, purport, proposeverb
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, offerpurpose, resolveverb
reach a decision
"he resolved never to drink again"
Synonyms:
decide, propose, settle, break up, solve, aim, purport, dissolve, conclude, answer, adjudicate, resolve
Editors Contribution
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, 2015ikigai
telos
telos means the ultimate end or purpose of something.
Submitted by JP03 on March 26, 2015
Dictionary of English Synonymes
purposenoun
Synonyms:
aim, intent, intention, design, object, end, drift, view, final causepurposeverb
Synonyms:
intend, design, mean, meditate, think of, have in mind, resolve upon, propose to one's selfpurposeverb
Synonyms:
intend, design, mean, have in mind
Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words
Suggested Resources
purpose
Song lyrics by purpose -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by purpose on the Lyrics.com website.
Words popularity by usage frequency
How to use purpose in a sentence?
I know that I'm desensitized to certain things and it's not on purpose. It's just because I'm imperfect as a human just like anyone else. But I feel like when you have that light bulb going off in your head, use your voice, use your platform for something that matters.
Everybody should be concentrating on the well-being of Peng Shuai and not trying to use this for any other purpose, don't write it off the silent diplomacy, it's a very powerful tool and we plan to stick to that.
I just have this strong belief now as I meet rural, white Americans, as I meet rural black Americans, we have so much of the common pain but we're lacking the sense of common purpose.
As an expression of our deeply-held conviction that this bias must be addressed in order for the Council to realize its legitimate purpose, the United States decided not to attend the Council's Item Seven General Debate session.
I know Wayne didn’t do this on purpose. He didn’t do this [to] offend anybody. I apologize that it offended, believe me.
Translations for purpose
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- نيّة, سبب, هدف, غرArabic
- ниәтBashkir
- úmysl, účel, cílCzech
- mening, intention, mål, grund, formålDanish
- Zweck, Absicht, Intention, Grund, beabsichtigen, Ziel, Thema, planenGerman
- σκοπός, σκοπεύω, πρόθεση, στόχος, λόγος, αιτίαGreek
- objeto, determinación, intención, propósito, objetivo, tema, razón, resolución, decisión, proponerseSpanish
- هدفPersian
- tarkoitusFinnish
- ætlaFaroese
- but, sujet, intention, objectifFrench
- cuspóirIrish
- rùnScottish Gaelic
- מטרה, סיבה, כוונה, נחישותHebrew
- उद्देHindi
- szándék, céljaHungarian
- tujuanIndonesian
- ætlaIcelandic
- soggetto, intenzione, proposito, argomento, scopoItalian
- מטרהHebrew
- 目的Japanese
- 목적Korean
- propositumLatin
- vastberadenheid, van plan zijn, nut, doel, bedoeling, intentie, reden, strekking, opzet, zinDutch
- mål, hensiktNorwegian
- temat, intencja, zagadnienie, cel, powód, zamiar, cel, powódPolish
- objetivo, propósito, intençãoPortuguese
- determinare, subiect, scop, rost, țintă, cauză, motiv, țel, obiectiv, temăRomanian
- цель, причинаRussian
- namjera, svrha, ciljSerbo-Croatian
- avsikt, syfteSwedish
- நோக்கம்Tamil
- วัตถุประสงค์Thai
- amaçTurkish
- метаUkrainian
- مقصدUrdu
- mục đíchVietnamese
- צילYiddish
- 目的Chinese
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Translation
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