目的の定義と意味 - メリアム・ウェブスター

PURPOSE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Est. 1828 Dictionary Definition noun verb noun 2 noun verb Synonyms Synonym Chooser Example Sentences Word History Phrases Containing Rhymes Entries Near Related Articles Cite this Entry Citation Kids Definition Kids Legal Definition Legal More from M-W Show more Show more Citation Kids Legal More from M-W Save Word To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In purpose 1 of 2 noun pur·​pose ˈpər-pəs Synonyms of purpose 1 a : the reason something is done or used : intention an ancient structure used for ceremonial purposes The purpose of the new resort is to attract more tourists. The fence's purpose was to prepare the park for its future. — Ismail Muhammad b : the feeling of being determined to do or achieve something : resolution , determination wrote with purpose felt that my life lacked purpose We started work again with a renewed sense of purpose . c : the aim or goal of a person Her sole purpose in life was to be a writer. We shared a common purpose . a life spent searching for a higher purpose 2 dated : a subject under discussion or an action in course of execution They said very little that was to the purpose . see also: on purpose purpose 2 of 2 verb purposed ; purposing transitive verb : to propose as an aim to oneself Synonyms of purpose Relevance Noun goal aim intention plan intent objective idea object thing ambition Verb plan intend aim hope mean contemplate See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus Choose the Right Synonym for purpose intention , intent , purpose , design , aim , end , object , objective , goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about. announced his intention to marry intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness. the clear intent of the statute purpose suggests a more settled determination. being successful was her purpose in life design implies a more carefully calculated plan. the order of events came by accident, not design aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing. her aim was to raise film to an art form end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such. willing to use any means to achieve his end object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need. his constant object was the achievement of pleasure objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable. their objective is to seize the oil fields goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship. worked years to reach her goals Examples of purpose in a Sentence Noun Shocking as it is, more than a month after the hurricane hit, New Orleans is still, for all practical purposes , a ghost town. — Tom Piazza , Why New Orleans Matters , 2005 By the time … American aid began pouring in, to all intents and purposes the war had already been lost. — Neil L. Jamieson , Understanding Vietnam , 1993 But wartime wage and price controls prevented companies from competing for the available talent by means of increased salaries. They had to compete with fringe benefits instead, and free health insurance was tailor-made for this purpose . — John Steele Gordon , American Heritage , May - June 1992 His purpose is to realize himself, to live the fullest possible life, and he is responsible for this, like all men, regardless of how society treats him. — Shelby Steele , Wilson Quarterly , Summer 1990 The purpose of the new resort is to attract more tourists. The loans are small but they serve a good purpose . Sometimes his life seemed to lack purpose or meaning. We started work again with a renewed sense of purpose . Verb I have not purposed to misrepresent this boy in any way, for what little indignation he excited in me soon passed and left nothing behind it but compassion. — Mark Twain , A Tramp Abroad , 1880 The child then explained that they had left the races on the first day, and were travelling to the next town on that road, where they purposed to spend the night. — Charles Dickens , The Old Curiosity Shop , 1841 I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now. See More Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Noun However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes . — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster , 30 Apr. 2026 The company that month also raised about $30 billion in off-balance sheet financing where the debt would sit in a special purpose vehicle tied to Blue Owl Capital Inc. — Bloomberg, Mercury News , 30 Apr. 2026 Fire Chief Bill Anaszewicz said the department worked with the homeowner and the village’s Community Development Department to gain approval to use the property for training purposes before it is razed for new construction. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune , 30 Apr. 2026 For all intents and purposes , Pal would be walking onto the field alone. — Literary Hub , 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purpose Word History Etymology Noun and Verb Middle English purpos , from Anglo-French, from purposer to intend, propose, from Latin proponere (perfect indicative proposui ) to propose — more at propound First Known Use Noun 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined above Time Traveler The first known use of purpose was in the 14th century See more words from the same century Phrases Containing purpose accidentally on purpose a higher purpose all - purpose clarity of purpose cross - purpose defeat the purpose of dual - purpose for a good purpose for no apparent purpose general - purpose on purpose purpose - built serve a purpose serve no purpose share a common purpose special purpose acquisition company strength of purpose to good purpose to no good purpose See More Rhymes for purpose multipurpose See All Rhymes for purpose Browse Nearby Words purportless purpose purpose-built See all Nearby Words Articles Related to purpose 'For All Intensive Purposes': An... What's an "intensive" purpose, anyway? Cite this Entry Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster “Purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purpose. Accessed 5 May. 2026. Copy Citation Kids Definition purpose noun pur·​pose ˈpər-pəs 1 : something set up as an end to be attained 2 : an object or result achieved worked to little purpose purposeful -fəl adjective purposefully -fə-lē adverb purposefulness -fəl-nəs noun purposeless -pəs-ləs adjective Legal Definition purpose noun pur·​pose ˈpər-pəs : an objective, effect, or result aimed at or attained specifically : the business activity in which a corporation is chartered to engage purposeful -fəl adjective purposefully adverb purposefulness noun More from Merriam-Webster on purpose Nglish: Translation of purpose for Spanish Speakers Last Updated: 1 May 2026 - Updated example sentences Love words? Need even more definitions? 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