1
b
2
: a subject under discussion or an action in course of execution
Synonyms
Examples of purpose in a Sentence
Noun
Shocking as it is, more than a month after the hurricane hit, New Orleans is still, for all practical purposes, a ghost town.
—
Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
By the time … American aid began pouring in, to all intents and purposes the war had already been lost.
—Neil L. Jamieson, Understanding Vietnam, 1993
But wartime wage and price controls prevented companies from competing for the available talent by means of increased salaries. They had to compete with fringe benefits instead, and free health insurance was tailor-made for this purpose.
—John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, May - June 1992
His purpose is to realize himself, to live the fullest possible life, and he is responsible for this, like all men, regardless of how society treats him.
—Shelby Steele, Wilson Quarterly, Summer 1990
The purpose of the new resort is to attract more tourists.
The loans are small but they serve a good purpose.
Sometimes his life seemed to lack purpose or meaning.
We started work again with a renewed sense of purpose.
Verb
I have not purposed to misrepresent this boy in any way, for what little indignation he excited in me soon passed and left nothing behind it but compassion.
—Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad, 1880
The child then explained that they had left the races on the first day, and were travelling to the next town on that road, where they purposed to spend the night.
—Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop, 1841
I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now.
Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
By the time … American aid began pouring in, to all intents and purposes the war had already been lost.
—Neil L. Jamieson, Understanding Vietnam, 1993
But wartime wage and price controls prevented companies from competing for the available talent by means of increased salaries. They had to compete with fringe benefits instead, and free health insurance was tailor-made for this purpose.
—John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, May - June 1992
His purpose is to realize himself, to live the fullest possible life, and he is responsible for this, like all men, regardless of how society treats him.
—Shelby Steele, Wilson Quarterly, Summer 1990
The purpose of the new resort is to attract more tourists.
The loans are small but they serve a good purpose.
Sometimes his life seemed to lack purpose or meaning.
We started work again with a renewed sense of purpose.
Verb
I have not purposed to misrepresent this boy in any way, for what little indignation he excited in me soon passed and left nothing behind it but compassion.
—Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad, 1880
The child then explained that they had left the races on the first day, and were travelling to the next town on that road, where they purposed to spend the night.
—Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop, 1841
I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now.
Recent Examples on the Web
Angela Haupt, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Many fans have questioned the purpose of a TV reboot given the film franchise is pretty much perfect as is, but Columbus sees its worth.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 21 Jan. 2025
However, business leaders assessing their companies’ plans for 2025 and 2026 need insights about economic change in the next two years; that is the purpose of this article.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Among its chief purposes, to honor those who kept King’s legacy alive with their own actions Thirty-seven years later, the event — now known as the largest MLK celebration in Anne Arundel County — drew some 600 guests to Maryland Live!
—Sloane Brown, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for purpose 
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Noun
Keeping your headphones on and listening to a favorite podcast or audiobook can serve the same purpose.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Many fans have questioned the purpose of a TV reboot given the film franchise is pretty much perfect as is, but Columbus sees its worth.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 21 Jan. 2025
However, business leaders assessing their companies’ plans for 2025 and 2026 need insights about economic change in the next two years; that is the purpose of this article.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Among its chief purposes, to honor those who kept King’s legacy alive with their own actions Thirty-seven years later, the event — now known as the largest MLK celebration in Anne Arundel County — drew some 600 guests to Maryland Live!
—Sloane Brown, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for purpose
Articles Related to purpose
Dictionary Entries Near purpose
Cite this Entry
“Purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purpose. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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