Home Synonyms purpose

Synonyms of purpose in English:

purpose


See US English definition of purpose

See UK English definition of purpose

See Spanish definition of propósito

noun

1‘the main purpose of his visit’

SYNONYMS
motive, motivation, grounds, cause, impetus, occasion, reason, point, basis, justification

2‘the trade unions insisted that their purpose was not to subvert the market economy’

SYNONYMS
intention, aim, object, objective, goal, end, plan, scheme, target
ambition, aspiration, desire, wish, hope

3‘I cannot see any purpose in just saying no’

SYNONYMS
advantage, benefit, good, use, usefulness, value, merit, worth, gain, profit, avail, result, outcome, effect
informal mileage, percentage
archaic behoof, boot

4‘the original purpose of this large porch was to shelter pilgrims’

SYNONYMS
function, role
raison d'être

5‘Middlesbrough had started the game with more purpose and menace’

SYNONYMS
determination, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, firmness, firmness of purpose, steadfastness, backbone, drive, push, thrust, enthusiasm, ambition, initiative, enterprise, motivation, single-mindedness, commitment, conviction, dedication
informal get-up-and-go

verb

1‘they purposed to reach the summit that night’

SYNONYMS
intend, mean, aim, plan, design, have the intention, have in mind, have a mind
decide, resolve, determine, propose, have plans, set out, aspire, desire, want, wish, expect, hope
set one's sights on, have in view, contemplate, think of

Phrases

    to the purpose

    ‘it would not be to the purpose to take this figure as the standard’


    SYNONYMS
    pertinent, applicable, apposite, material, apropos, to the point, germane, admissible, relevant
    appropriate, apt, fitting, suitable, proper
    connected, related, linked
    ad rem
    rare appurtenant
    ANTONYMS

    irrelevant

    on purpose

    ‘her mother made a terrible clatter with the plates on purpose’


    SYNONYMS
    deliberately, intentionally, purposely, by design, wilfully, calculatedly, premeditatedly, wittingly, knowingly, consciously
    in cold blood, of one's own volition
    expressly, explicitly, specifically, especially, specially