| English Dictionary |
PURPOSEFUL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does purposeful mean?
• PURPOSEFUL (adjective)
The adjective PURPOSEFUL has 2 senses:
1. serving as or indicating the existence of a purpose or goal
2. having meaning through having an aim
Familiarity information: PURPOSEFUL used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Serving as or indicating the existence of a purpose or goal
Similar:
businesslike; earnest (not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal)
goal-directed; purposive (having a purpose)
purpose-built; purpose-made (designed and constructed to serve a particular purpose)
Also:
meaningful (having a meaning or purpose)
resolute (firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination)
Antonym:
purposeless (not evidencing any purpose or goal)
Derivation:
purposefulness (the quality of having a definite purpose)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Having meaning through having an aim
Context example:
led a happy purposeful life
Similar:
meaningful (having a meaning or purpose)
Derivation:
purposefulness (the quality of having a definite purpose)
Context examples
For clinical decision-making, the purposeful and ongoing acquisition, interpretation, and synthesis of patient data obtained from clinical trials.
(Clinical Trials, Monitoring, NCI Thesaurus)
I was convinced, from his intent face and his purposeful manner, that at last he was upon a clue.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Then in an instant his sudden access of strength departed, and his masterful, purposeful talk droned away into the low, vague murmurings of a semi-delirious man.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Some of these proteins enter the blood stream by purposeful secretion to orchestrate biological processes in health or in disease, for example hormones, cytokines and growth factors.
(Study highlights potential for ‘liquid health check’ to predict disease risk, University of Cambridge)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"The nose didn't smell the rotting head." (Bhutanese proverb)
"If you hear a person talking good about things that aren't in you, don't be sure that he wouldn't also say bad things about things that aren't in you." (Arabic proverb)
"Just toss it in my hat and I'll sort it to-morrow." (Dutch proverb)