purposely

adverb

pur·​pose·​ly ˈpər-pəs-lē How to pronounce purposely (audio)
: with a deliberate or express purpose

Examples of purposely in a Sentence

the real estate agent purposely withheld information that would have discouraged us from buying the property
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.
While there may be a role for insurance, the sheer number of insurance products available today often creates more confusion than clarity for Americans, forcing them to wade through the morass of fine print that can be purposely misleading and sometimes fraudulent. Renee Hsia, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 In the winter, water levels are kept purposely lower because of a seasonal decline in water use by residents. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025 At least 15 people were killed, and more than 30 others were injured in New Orleans after the vehicle was purposely driven into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2025 By introducing new words (whether faked or purposely devised), and popularizing underused words, generative AI could indirectly shape human language. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for purposely 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purposely was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near purposely

Cite this Entry

“Purposely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposely. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

purposely

adverb
pur·​pose·​ly ˈpər-pəs-lē How to pronounce purposely (audio)
: with a clear or known purpose

Legal Definition

purposely

adverb
pur·​pose·​ly
: with a deliberate, conscious, or express purpose : intentionally

More from Merriam-Webster on purposely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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