Englisch

purpose

gb/pˈɚpəs/ us/pˈɚpəs/
B1 Englisch
~ 700
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
Nomen B1 entity
1

Reason for doing something

The reason why you do something or why something exists.

Verwendungsmuster: the purpose of [something] is to [verb]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes confuse 'purpose' with 'goal'. A 'goal' is a specific target, while 'purpose' is the reason or motivation behind an action.
Synonyme
reason (More general term; not always tied to intention or goal.) | aim (Emphasizes a desired result or target rather than the underlying reason.)
Antonyme
pointlessness (Indicates the lack of a reason or usefulness.) | meaninglessness (Suggests absence of significance or purpose.)
Wortverbindungen
main purpose |serve a purpose |state the purpose |clear purpose |for a purpose
Themen
motivation |planning |goals |core_vocabulary
Beispiele
  • The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss the budget.
  • Her purpose in life is to help others.
  • This tool was designed for the purpose of cutting glass.
  • He explained the purpose of the new rules to the staff.
  • They met with the purpose of finding a solution.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • The purpose of a pen is to write.
  • My purpose today is to study.
  • The purpose of this box is to hold books.
  • What is the purpose of this button?
  • The purpose of the trip is to see my family.
Verb formal C1 action
2

Intend or plan to do

To plan to do something; to mean to do it.

Verwendungsmuster: to purpose to [verb]
Häufiger Fehler:
Many learners are unaware that 'purpose' as a verb is very formal and rare in everyday English; they should use 'intend' instead in most contexts.
Synonyme
intend (Most common everyday synonym; less formal.) | plan (Focuses on arranging details rather than just having an intention.)
Antonyme
neglect (Implies failing to plan or act intentionally.)
Wortverbindungen
purpose in life |purpose to achieve |purpose firmly
Themen
planning |intentions |core_vocabulary
Beispiele
  • She purposes to start her own business next year.
  • He purposes never to speak of it again.
  • They purposed to meet in secret.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • I purpose to read more books this year.
  • She purposes to learn Spanish.
  • We purpose to finish the work today.
Grammatik
Grundform
purpose
IPA
GB/pˈɚpəs/
US/pˈɚpəs/
Silben & Betonung
pur - pose (2 Silben)
Stress on 1st syllable (pur)
Wortformen
Noun
  • Base: purpose
  • Plural: purpose, purposes
Verb
  • Base: purpose
  • 3rd Person Singular: purposes
  • Present Participle: purposing
  • Past: purposed
Wortfamilie
Forms
purposes noun purposing verb purposed verb
Core family
purposeful adjective B2 purposely adverb B2 purposefully adverb
Related words
repurpose verb multipurpose adjective
Negative and opposite forms
purposeless adjective purposelessly adverb
Advanced or less common
purposive adjective purposefulness noun
Ausdrücke

for the purpose of

1
/fɚ ðə pˈɚpəs əv/
fixed phrase formal

With the aim of doing something

Used to show why something is done; for a particular reason.

Beispiele
  • The form is used for the purpose of collecting customer feedback.
  • She traveled for the purpose of studying abroad.

serve a purpose

1
/sˈɚv ə pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase

Be useful or functional

To be useful or help to achieve something.

Beispiele
  • This old chair still serves a purpose in the guest room.
  • His advice served a purpose during our negotiations.

to no purpose

1
/tə nˈoʊ pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase formal

Without success or effect

Without getting any result; without success.

Beispiele
  • He argued to no purpose; the decision had already been made.
  • Their efforts were to no purpose in stopping the plan.

on purpose

1
/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase

Intentionally, not accidentally

To do something on purpose means you do it because you want to, not by accident.

Beispiele
  • I didn't break the vase on purpose.
  • She left early on purpose so she could avoid traffic.

on purpose

2
/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase

done deliberately, not by mistake

Done with intention, not by accident.

Beispiele
  • She broke the vase on purpose.
  • He left early on purpose to avoid traffic.

on purpose

3
/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase

deliberately; not by accident

To do something on purpose means to do it intentionally, not by mistake or by chance.

Beispiele
  • You broke my phone on purpose, didn’t you?
  • He spilled coffee on his shirt and then joked that he did it on purpose to leave the meeting early.
  • She didn’t ignore you on purpose; she just didn’t see your message.

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