Purposeful

ˈpɜːrpəsfl

adjectivemedium📊CommonQuality
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

Having or showing a clear aim or intention.

ˈpɜːrpəsfl

adjectivepositivemedium
Quality

Having a clear aim or intention.

The athlete’s training was purposeful, focused on winning the competition.

💡 Simply: When something is purposeful, it's like it knows exactly what it's doing. Imagine a dog fetching a ball – it's purposeful because it has the clear intention of bringing the ball back.

👶 For kids: When something is purposeful, it means it has a reason for doing something.

More Examples

2

She walked with a purposeful stride, knowing exactly where she was going.

3

The company implemented purposeful changes to improve customer satisfaction.

How It's Used

General

"The organization had a purposeful strategy to achieve its goals."

Business

"A purposeful approach to marketing is crucial for success."

Psychology

"A purposeful life is often associated with higher levels of well-being."

Synonyms & Antonyms

From "purpose" + "-ful", indicating 'full of purpose'. "Purpose" derives from Old French "purpos" (intent, design), ultimately from Latin "propositum" (a thing proposed or intended).

The word "purposeful" became more common during the 19th century, reflecting a growing emphasis on planning and efficiency.

Memory tip

Think of a person with a clear PURPO(se)-FUL direction.

Word Origin

LanguageEnglish (from French/Latin)
Original meaning

"Having a clear aim or goal."

purposeful actionpurposeful effortpurposeful approachpurposeful strategypurposeful life

Common misspellings

purposefullpurposful

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written