purpose

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpɜːrpəs/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈpɝpəs/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(pûrpəs)

Inflections of 'purpose' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
purposes
v 3rd person singular
purposing
v pres p
purposed
v past
purposed
v past p
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WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2025:

Principal Translations
InglésEspañol
purpose n (reason)propósito nm
  finalidad nf
  objetivo nm
 What is the purpose of this trip to the store?
 ¿Cuál es el propósito de este viaje a la tienda?
purpose n (goal)propósito nm
  objetivo nm
  meta nf
 My purpose in life is to serve others.
 Mi propósito en la vida es servirle al prójimo.
 Mi objetivo en la vida es servirle al prójimo.
  Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement.
Additional Translations
InglésEspañol
purpose n (resoluteness, toward goal)resolución nf
 Knowing that he was facing a deadline, he really worked with purpose.
 Sabiendo que enfrentaba una fecha límite, él trabajó con gran resolución.
purpose n (result, effect)causa nf
 It is hard work, but it's all to good purpose.
 Es un trabajo duro, pero es por una buena causa.
purpose vtr dated, formal (plan to do [sth])proponerse v prnl
 He purposed to learn to cook.
 Se propuso aprender a cocinar.
  Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement.

WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2025:

Compound Forms:
InglésEspañol
all-purpose adj (for many different uses)multiusos, multiuso adj
  que sirve para todo los adj
 Zingo is a powerful all-purpose cleaner for floors, walls and ceilings.
 Zingo es un poderoso limpiador multiusos (or: multiuso) para los pisos, las paredes y los techos.
all-purpose flour (US),
plain flour (UK)
n
(wheat flour)harina de trigo nf + loc adj
  harina multipropósito loc nom f
  (AR)harina 000 loc nom f
 All-purpose flour is great for cookies, but doesn't have enough gluten for bread.
 La harina de trigo es excelente para hacer galletitas, pero tiene muy poco gluten para hacer pan.
  harina común nf + adj
 La harina común es excelente para hacer galletas, pero tiene muy poco gluten para hacer pan.
cross-purpose n (contrary aims)propósito contrario nm + adj
  objetivo contrario nm + adj
 The whole meeting was nothing but cross-purpose and confusion.
dual-purpose adj (having two uses)de doble uso loc adj
  de doble propósito loc adj
for the purpose of expr (in order to)a fin de loc prep
 A committee was formed for the purpose of determining the cause of the fire.
 Se formó un comité a fin de determinar la causa del incendio.
  con el propósito de loc prep
 Se formó un comité con el propósito de determinar la causa del incendio.
  para prep
 Se formó un comité para determinar la causa del incendio.
for the purpose of expr (in regards to)a los fines de loc prep
  con respecto a loc prep
 Let us assume, for the purpose of this discussion, that the mayor will be reelected.
 Asumamos, a los fines de esta discusión, que el alcalde es reelecto.
general-purpose adj (not for one specific use)de uso general loc adj
multipurpose,
also UK: multi-purpose
adj
(having many uses)multiusos adj inv
  multifunción adj mf
 This multipurpose piece of furniture can serve as a chair, couch, or bed.
 El mueble multiusos sirve de silla, sillón o cama.
on purpose adv (deliberately, intentionally)a propósito loc adv
  adrede adv
 I'm sorry! I didn't do it on purpose.
 Perdón, no lo hice a propósito.
  (formal)deliberadamente adv
  (formal)de forma deliberada loc adv
  (formal)a sabiendas loc adv
  (formal)aposta adv
 Perdón, no lo hice deliberadamente.
public purpose n (law: of land)fin público nm+adj
  propósito público nm+adj
purpose-built adj (made for specific use)construido especificamente para loc adj
sense of purpose n (resoluteness)propósito nm
  rumbo nm
  (informal, figurado)norte nm
serve no purpose v expr (be useless or pointless)no servir para nada, no servir de nada loc verb
 Lying would serve no purpose because the truth will come out later.
 Mentir no sirve para nada porque la verdad siempre sale a la liuz.
serve the purpose v expr (be suitable for a task)servir a los propósitos loc verb
 If you don't have a shovel to dig with, a sharp stick just might serve the purpose.
 Si no tienes una pala para cavar, un palo afilado puede servir a los propósitos.
  cumplir la función loc verb
 Si no tienes una pala para cavar, un palo afilado puede cumplir la función.
  servir para eso loc verb
 Si no tienes una pala para cavar, un palo afilado puede servir para eso.
set purpose n (specific intention)objetivo particular nm + adj mf
  propósito específico nm + adj
 Every lesson you plan to teach should have a set purpose.
 We're meeting today with no set purpose; we'll see what comes up.
 Cada una de tus lecciones debería tener un objetivo particular. // Nos vamos a reunir hoy sin un objetivo particular, veremos qué pasa.
statement of purpose n (part of university application)declaración de propósitos nf + loc adj
statement of purpose n (written summary of one's career aims)declaración de propósitos nf + loc adj
to the purpose expr (relevant)para el propósito expr
  Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement.

'purpose' aparece también en las siguientes entradas:
In the English description:
Spanish:

Collocations: the [ultimate, proposed, intended, original] purpose, did not [do, say, forget] it on purpose, has a [special, particular] purpose, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "purpose" in the title:

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See Google Translate's machine translation of 'purpose'.

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