This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn more

Another word for purpose

a-z
Noun

  1. The proper activity of a person or thing

      1. A piece of work assigned or done as part of one's duties.
      2. A difficult or tedious undertaking:
      3. A function to be performed; an objective:
      1. A character or part played by a performer.
      2. The characteristic and expected social behavior of an individual.
      3. A function or position.
      1. A regular activity performed in exchange for payment, especially as one's trade, occupation, or profession:
      2. A position of employment:
      3. A task that must be done:
      1. A person's role or occupation:
      2. The physiological activity of an organ or body part:
      3. A procedure within an application.
    See also:

    do

  2. What one intends to do or achieve

      1. For what purpose, reason, or cause; with what intention, justification, or motive:
      2. The reason, cause, or purpose for which:
      3. On account of which; for which.
      1. An examination using the eyes; a look:
      2. Field of vision:
      3. A scene or vista:
      1. An object, such as a padded disk with a marked surface, that is shot at to test accuracy in rifle or archery practice.
      2. Something aimed or fired at.
      3. An object of criticism or verbal attack.
      1. A sharp or tapered end:
      2. An object having a sharp or tapered end:
      3. A tapering extension of land projecting into water; a peninsula, cape, or promontory.
      1. Existing independent of or external to the mind; actual or real:
      2. Based on observable phenomena; empirical:
      3. Uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices:
      1. Something perceptible by one or more of the senses, especially by vision or touch; a material thing.
      2. A focus of attention, feeling, thought, or action:
      3. A limiting factor that must be considered:
      1. The denotation, referent, or idea associated with a word or phrase:
      2. Something that is conveyed or intended, especially by language; sense or significance:
      3. An interpreted goal, intent, or end:
      1. A visible trace or impression, such as a line or spot:
      2. A name, logo, or other indicator used to indicate ownership, origin, or level of quality.
      3. A notch made in an animal's ear or hide to indicate ownership.
      1. The action or fact of intending:
      2. An aim that guides action; an objective:
      3. Purpose with respect to marriage:
      1. Something that is intended; an aim or purpose.
      2. The state of mind necessary for an act to constitute a crime.
      3. Firmly fixed; concentrated:
      1. The object toward which an endeavor is directed; an end.
      2. A structure or area into which players endeavor to propel a ball or puck in order to score points.
      3. A play or shot that sends a ball or puck into or through the goal.
      1. Either extremity of something that has length:
      2. The outside or extreme edge or physical limit; a boundary:
      3. The point in time when an action, event, or phenomenon ceases or is completed; the conclusion:
      1. To conceive or fashion in the mind; invent:
      2. To formulate a plan for; devise:
      3. To make a graphic or schematic representation of (something), especially as a plan for its structure:
      1. An eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power.
      2. The object or goal desired:
      3. Desire for exertion or activity; energy:
      1. To direct (a weapon or camera) toward a point.
      2. To direct or propel (an object, such as a ball) toward a point:
      3. To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group:
    Idioms:
    See also:

    purpose

    planned

  3. Unwavering firmness of character, action, or will

    See also:

    strong

    certain

Verb

  1. To have in mind as a goal or purpose

      1. The part or faculty of a person by which one feels, perceives, thinks, remembers, desires, and imagines:
      2. A person of great mental ability:
      3. Individual consciousness, memory, or recollection:
      1. An object, such as a padded disk with a marked surface, that is shot at to test accuracy in rifle or archery practice.
      2. Something aimed or fired at.
      3. An object of criticism or verbal attack.
      1. To put forward for consideration, discussion, or adoption; suggest:
      2. To recommend (a person) for a position, office, or membership; nominate.
      3. To offer (a toast to be drunk).
      1. An undertaking requiring concerted effort:
      2. An extensive task undertaken by a student or group of students to apply, illustrate, or supplement classroom lessons.
      3. A plan or proposal for accomplishing something.
      1. An orderly or step-by-step conception or proposal for accomplishing an objective:
      2. A proposed or intended course of action:
      3. A systematic arrangement of elements or important parts; a configuration or outline:
      1. To be used to convey; denote:
      2. To act as a symbol of; signify or represent:
      3. To intend to convey or indicate:
      1. To have in mind; plan:
      2. To design for a specific purpose:
      3. To have in mind for a particular use:
      1. To conceive or fashion in the mind; invent:
      2. To formulate a plan for; devise:
      3. To make a graphic or schematic representation of (something), especially as a plan for its structure:
      1. To look at attentively and thoughtfully:
      2. To consider carefully and at length; meditate on or ponder:
      3. To have in mind as an intention or possibility:
      1. To direct (a weapon or camera) toward a point.
      2. To direct or propel (an object, such as a ball) toward a point:
      3. To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group:
    See also:

    purpose

    planned

© Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Another word for purpose

Noun

  1. Aim

      1. Expulsion of breath in speech.
      2. The pronunciation of a consonant with an aspirate.
      3. A speech sound produced with an aspirate.
      1. An object, such as a padded disk with a marked surface, that is shot at to test accuracy in rifle or archery practice.
      2. Something aimed or fired at.
      3. An object of criticism or verbal attack.
      1. The act of proposing.
      2. A plan that is proposed.
      3. An offer of marriage.
      1. Something expected; a possibility.
      2. Chances.
      3. Financial expectations, especially of success.
      1. A systematic plan of action:
      2. A secret or devious plan; a plot:
      3. An orderly plan or arrangement of related parts:
      1. The management, supervision, or guidance of a group or operation:
      2. The art or action of directing a musical or theatrical production.
      3. An authoritative order or command:
      1. The place to which one is going or directed.
      2. The ultimate purpose for which something is created or intended.
      3. An act of appointing or setting aside for a specific purpose.
      1. Something that is intended; an aim or purpose.
      2. The state of mind necessary for an act to constitute a crime.
      3. Firmly fixed; concentrated:
      1. An eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power.
      2. The object or goal desired:
      3. Desire for exertion or activity; energy:
      1. The act of expecting.
      2. Eager anticipation:
      3. The state of being expected.
      1. A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
      2. A daydream; a reverie.
      3. A state of abstraction; a trance:
      1. To wish or long for; want:
      2. To want to have sex with (another person).
      3. To express a wish for; request.
      1. The range of one's perceptions, thoughts, or actions:
      2. The opportunity or possibility to function or be active:
      3. The extent of a given activity or subject that is involved, treated, or relevant:
      1. An examination using the eyes; a look:
      2. Field of vision:
      3. A scene or vista:
      1. The denotation, referent, or idea associated with a word or phrase:
      2. Something that is conveyed or intended, especially by language; sense or significance:
      3. An interpreted goal, intent, or end:
      1. To make a firm decision about:
      2. To decide or express by formal vote:
      3. To cause (a person) to reach a decision:
      1. To wish for a particular event that one considers possible:
      2. To have confidence; trust.
      3. To desire and consider possible:
      1. To conceive or fashion in the mind; invent:
      2. To formulate a plan for; devise:
      3. To make a graphic or schematic representation of (something), especially as a plan for its structure:
      1. Something, such as a thought or conception, that is the product of mental activity.
      2. An opinion, conviction, or principle:
      3. A plan, purpose, or goal:
      1. Something perceptible by one or more of the senses, especially by vision or touch; a material thing.
      2. A focus of attention, feeling, thought, or action:
      3. A limiting factor that must be considered:
      1. Existing independent of or external to the mind; actual or real:
      2. Based on observable phenomena; empirical:
      3. Uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices:
      1. A special assignment given to a person or group:
      2. A combat operation assigned to a person or military unit.
      3. An aerospace operation intended to carry out specific program objectives:
      1. The object toward which an endeavor is directed; an end.
      2. A structure or area into which players endeavor to propel a ball or puck in order to score points.
      3. A play or shot that sends a ball or puck into or through the goal.
      1. Either extremity of something that has length:
      2. The outside or extreme edge or physical limit; a boundary:
      3. The point in time when an action, event, or phenomenon ceases or is completed; the conclusion:
      1. The action or fact of intending:
      2. An aim that guides action; an objective:
      3. Purpose with respect to marriage:
    See also:

    plan

  2. Resolution

    See also:

    faith

    determination

    confidence

Verb
      1. To put forward for consideration, discussion, or adoption; suggest:
      2. To recommend (a person) for a position, office, or membership; nominate.
      3. To offer (a toast to be drunk).
      1. An orderly or step-by-step conception or proposal for accomplishing an objective:
      2. A proposed or intended course of action:
      3. A systematic arrangement of elements or important parts; a configuration or outline:
      1. To direct (a weapon or camera) toward a point.
      2. To direct or propel (an object, such as a ball) toward a point:
      3. To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group:
      1. To have in mind; plan:
      2. To design for a specific purpose:
      3. To have in mind for a particular use:
    See also:

    intend

    intend

Idioms:

    on-purpose

    2. to good purpose

    3. to little (or no) purpose

    4. to the purpose

Synonym Study

  • Objective refers to a specific end that is capable of being reached her immediate objective is to pass the course
  • Object is used of an end that is the direct result of a need or desire the object of the discussion was to arouse controversy
  • End emphasizes the final result one hopes to achieve as distinct from the process of achieving it does a desirable end ever justify the use of immoral means?
  • Goal suggests laborious effort in striving to attain something the presidency was the goal of his ambition
  • Aim refers to a specific intention and connotes a directing of all efforts toward this his aim is to become a doctor
  • Intent , a somewhat formal term common in legal usage, connotes more deliberation assault with intent to kill
  • Intention is the general word implying a having something in mind as a plan or design, or referring to the plan had in mind
  • Purpose connotes a defined or specific resolution or determination in the plan had in mind I have a purpose in writing you
© WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD® ROGET’S A-Z THESAURUS by Charlton Laird and the editors of Webster’s New World dictionaries. Copyright © 1999 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Sentence Examples

  • His purpose for bringing her here was unclear.

  • If you win or lose, let it be on purpose.

  • That served another purpose when the conversation turned to the possibility of another child.

  • Actually, she had lost purpose in life then.

  • He knew the effect he had on her; he did it on purpose to mess with her.

More sentences →

Words near purpose in the Thesaurus