purpose · n
serve a/the purpose
C2 to have a use
Dictionary examples:
These small community centers serve a very useful purpose. (33.5)
purpose (INTENTION)
C2 the feeling of knowing what you want to do
Dictionary examples:
He seems to have lost all sense of purpose. (21.5)
to all intents and purposes
C2 in all the most important ways
Dictionary examples:
To all intents and purposes, the project was a disaster. (54.7)
purpose (REASON)
B1 why you do something or why something exists
Dictionary examples:
The purpose of my cat's existence is to judge my life choices. (0.0)
My alarm clock's purpose is to interrupt my best dreams. (0.0)
The purpose of my diet is to make donuts taste better. (0.0)
The school's new lab will be used for research purposes only. (27.9)
The primary purpose of the meeting is to discuss the future of the company. (35.7)
a multi-purpose kitchen knife (43.0)
on purpose
B1 intentionally
Dictionary examples:
He spilled coffee on purpose to avoid a boring meeting. (0.0)
I forgot my homework on purpose, but the teacher didn't believe me. (0.0)
I put salt in my coffee on purpose to wake up faster. (0.0)
I didn't do it on purpose, it was an accident. (21.2)