English Reference
Adverb

purposely

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈpɝpəsɫi/ UK /pˈɜːpəsli/ pur·pose·ly

adv.on purpose. You use this when someone does something because they want to, not by accident.

adv.with a deliberate or intentional aim. Often used to describe actions performed with a specific, conscious motive.


SIMPLE

I purposely left the door open for you.

CONTEXTUAL

The architect purposely designed the windows to face the sunrise, ensuring the house would be bright every morning.

COMPLEX

The author purposely omitted the protagonist's name throughout the entire novel to create a sense of universal experience that any reader could inhabit.

Usage

Typically placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.

Pitfall
He did it purposefully.He did it purposely.

Learners confuse 'purposely' (on purpose) with 'purposefully' (with determination or a sense of purpose).

Even the language feels purposely euphemistic and obfuscatory.

The Guardian· 11 Sept 2026

From Middle English purposly; equivalent to purpose + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English purposly
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated