purposeful

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈpɝ.pəs.fəl/ UK /ˈpɜː.pəs.fəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #42885

Meanings

1

adj
Showing that you know what you want and are determined to get it.

She walked into the meeting with purposeful, confident steps.
2

adj
Done on purpose; having a clear aim or intention.

His comments were purposeful, designed to make her think.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · showing that you know what... determined resolute focused

2 adj · done on purpose; having a... deliberate

More intentional purposive

Word family

Derived forms multipurposefulnonpurposefulpurposefullypurposefulnesssemipurposefulunpurposeful

Related forms purposive

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

purposeful life
a way of living guided by clear aims that give it meaning

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From purpose + -ful.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# purposeful

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɝ.pəs.fəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɜː.pəs.fəl/
**Frequency rank:** 42885

## Meanings
1. Showing that you know what you want and are determined to get it.
2. Done on purpose; having a clear aim or intention.

## Examples
- She walked into the meeting with purposeful, confident steps.
- His comments were purposeful, designed to make her think.

## Synonyms
- intentional
- purposive

## Derived Forms
- multipurposeful
- nonpurposeful
- purposefully
- purposefulness
- semipurposeful
- unpurposeful

## Related Forms
- purposive

## Etymology
From purpose + -ful.

## AI Etymology
Purposeful comes from purpose + -ful. In present-day English it covers showing that you know what you want and are determined to get it and done on purpose; having a clear aim or intention. The wider family includes derived forms such as multipurposeful, nonpurposeful, purposefully, purposefulness, semipurposeful and related forms such as purposive.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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