Purposely Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈpɜːrpəsli/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adverb

Definition

In a deliberate or intentional manner; on purpose.

Examples

• She purposely avoided him at the party.
• He purposely left his phone at home to avoid distractions.

Synonyms

• Intentionally
• On purpose

Additional Information

Purposely is often used to describe actions or behaviors that are deliberate and intentional. It can be used to convey a sense of purpose or goal-oriented behavior. In everyday conversation, people may use purposely to describe their own actions or those of others.

In formal writing, purposely is often used in academic or technical contexts to describe experimental designs or methodologies. It can also be used in legal or formal documents to describe intentional actions or decisions.

The word purposely comes from the Old English words “purp” meaning “intention” and “os” meaning “ly” or “wise”. It has been in use since the 15th century and has evolved to encompass a range of meanings and connotations.

Usage Notes

Purposely is often used in formal writing and technical contexts, but it can also be used in informal conversation to add emphasis or clarify intentions. When using purposely, be mindful of the tone and context to avoid ambiguity or misinterpretation.

Cultural References

Purposely has been used in various cultural and literary contexts to convey themes of intention, purpose, and deliberate action. Examples include literature, film, and music, where characters or protagonists may use the word to describe their motivations or goals.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• Purposely avoid
• On purpose, but not purposely

Related Words or Phrases

• INTENTIONALLY

Collocations

• purposefully walk
• purposefully ignore

Frequency of Use

Purposely is moderately used in modern language, with an average frequency of 0.001% in written texts and 0.005% in spoken language.

Common Misspellings

• Purposeley
• Purposly