purpose
gb/pˈɚpəs/ us/pˈɚpəs/
B1
Kiingereza
~ 700
Maana
maana 0
Nomino
B1
entity
1
Reason for doing something
The reason why you do something or why something exists.
Muundo wa matumizi:
the purpose of [something] is to [verb]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'purpose' with 'goal'. A 'goal' is a specific target, while 'purpose' is the reason or motivation behind an action.
Visawe
reason (More general term; not always tied to intention or goal.)
|
aim (Emphasizes a desired result or target rather than the underlying reason.)
Vinyume
pointlessness (Indicates the lack of a reason or usefulness.)
|
meaninglessness (Suggests absence of significance or purpose.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
main purpose
|serve a purpose
|state the purpose
|clear purpose
|for a purpose
Mada
motivation
|planning
|goals
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.
Kitenzi
formal
C1
action
2
Intend or plan to do
To plan to do something; to mean to do it.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to purpose to [verb]
Kosa la kawaida:
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.
Visawe
intend (Most common everyday synonym; less formal.)
|
plan (Focuses on arranging details rather than just having an intention.)
Vinyume
neglect (Implies failing to plan or act intentionally.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
purpose in life
|purpose to achieve
|purpose firmly
Mada
planning
|intentions
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- She purposes to start her own business next year.
- He purposes never to speak of it again.
- They purposed to meet in secret.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I purpose to read more books this year.
- She purposes to learn Spanish.
- We purpose to finish the work today.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
purpose
IPA
GB/pˈɚpəs/
US/pˈɚpəs/
Silabi na mkazo
pur - pose (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (pur)
Maumbo ya neno
Noun
- Base: purpose
- Plural: purpose, purposes
Verb
- Base: purpose
- 3rd Person Singular: purposes
- Present Participle: purposing
- Past: purposed
Familia ya neno
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
Semi
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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.