Word
purposely
Phoneticspur·pose·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɝpəsɫi/
UK/pˈɜːpəsli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
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.
Examples
“I purposely left the door open for you.”
“The architect purposely designed the windows to face the sunrise, ensuring the house would be bright every morning.”
“The author purposely omitted the protagonist's name throughout the entire novel to create a sense of universal experience that any reader could inhabit.”
Examples
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).
Real-World Examples
“In remarks later that day, he complained that "something is wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stories".” “Even the language feels purposely euphemistic and obfuscatory.” Etymology
From Middle English purposly; equivalent to purpose + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/purposely