purposefully

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UK/ˈpɜː.pəs.fə.li/US/ˈpɝ.pəs.fə.li/

adverb

In a purposeful (“resolute, determined”) manner: resolutely, determinedly.

“I strode purposefully across the room.”

Less commonScrabble 22

Meanings

adverbpurposefully (comparative more purposefully, superlative most purposefully)

comparative more purposefully · superlative most purposefully

  1. In a purposeful (“resolute, determined”) manner: resolutely, determinedly.

    I strode purposefully across the room.

  2. In a purposeful (“intentional”) manner: intentionally, on purpose, purposely, deliberately.

    Jones’ sad eyes betray a pervasive pain his purposefully spare dialogue only hints at, while the perfectly cast Brolin conveys hints of playfulness and warmth while staying true to the craggy stoicism at the character’s core.

    2012 May 24, Nathan Rabin, “Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 05 Feb 2013
    1 more example

    [C]riminals are purposefully recruiting young, middle-class university students to do their dirty work “because they know they’re honest” and can be trusted to pass on the stolen cash rather than pocketing it all. Plus, students are cash hungry, as lockdown restrictions have squeezed any income from part-time jobs.

    2020 December 8, Claer Barrett, “Could your child be recruited as a money mule?”, in Financial Times, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2020

    Synonyms: deliberately, intentionally, purposely, wilfully, willfully

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbIn a purposeful (“intentional”) manner: intentionally, on purpose, purposely, deliberately.

Also see

Origin

Translations

Finnish päättäväisesti, määrätietoisesti
  • päättäväisestiin a resolute, determined manner; resolutely
  • määrätietoisestiin an intentional manner; intentionally, on purpose
French résolument, décidément
  • résolumentin a resolute, determined manner; resolutely
  • décidémentin a resolute, determined manner; resolutely
  • sciemmentin an intentional manner; intentionally, on purpose
  • délibérémentin an intentional manner; intentionally, on purpose
  • intentionnellementin an intentional manner; intentionally, on purpose
Portuguese decididamente, deliberadamente
  • decididamentein a resolute, determined manner; resolutely
  • deliberadamentein an intentional manner; intentionally, on purpose
  • intencionalmentein an intentional manner; intentionally, on purpose
Spanish propositivamente, propositivamente
  • propositivamentein a resolute, determined manner; resolutely
  • propositivamentein an intentional manner; intentionally, on purpose
Cite this entry
APA

purposefully. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purposefully

MLA

“purposefully.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purposefully. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “purposefully,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purposefully.

Source: purposefully on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.