purpose
gb/pˈɚpəs/ us/pˈɚpəs/
B1
Inglés
~ 700
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B1
entity
1
Reason for doing something
The reason why you do something or why something exists.
Patrón de uso:
the purpose of [something] is to [verb]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'purpose' with 'goal'. A 'goal' is a specific target, while 'purpose' is the reason or motivation behind an action.
Sinónimos
reason (More general term; not always tied to intention or goal.)
|
aim (Emphasizes a desired result or target rather than the underlying reason.)
Antónimos
pointlessness (Indicates the lack of a reason or usefulness.)
|
meaninglessness (Suggests absence of significance or purpose.)
Colocaciones
main purpose
|serve a purpose
|state the purpose
|clear purpose
|for a purpose
Temas
motivation
|planning
|goals
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- 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.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
2
Intend or plan to do
To plan to do something; to mean to do it.
Patrón de uso:
to purpose to [verb]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
intend (Most common everyday synonym; less formal.)
|
plan (Focuses on arranging details rather than just having an intention.)
Antónimos
neglect (Implies failing to plan or act intentionally.)
Colocaciones
purpose in life
|purpose to achieve
|purpose firmly
Temas
planning
|intentions
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- She purposes to start her own business next year.
- He purposes never to speak of it again.
- They purposed to meet in secret.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I purpose to read more books this year.
- She purposes to learn Spanish.
- We purpose to finish the work today.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
purpose
AFI
GB/pˈɚpəs/
US/pˈɚpəs/
Sílabas y acento
pur - pose (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (pur)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: purpose
- Plural: purpose, purposes
Verb
- Base: purpose
- 3rd Person Singular: purposes
- Present Participle: purposing
- Past: purposed
Familia de palabras
Forms
purposes
noun
purposing
verb
purposed
verb
Core family
Related words
repurpose
verb
multipurpose
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
purposeless
adjective
purposelessly
adverb
Advanced or less common
purposive
adjective
purposefulness
noun
Expresiones
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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.