purposely
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɜːpəsli/
US
- /ˈpɜrpəsli/
Description
- intentionally
- deliberately
- on purpose
If you purposely do something, you do it on purpose, not by accident. Imagine a mischievous child purposely hiding their sibling's toy. It is about making a clear choice to act in a certain way. You might purposely take the scenic route home, or purposely leave yourself extra time before a meeting. The word shows that the action was planned, even if it was only a small choice.
To do something purposely means to do it intentionally, deliberately, and with a clear aim in mind. It is not just something that happens by chance. It is a conscious choice. Think of an artist who purposely uses bold colors to create a strong feeling. They are not simply putting paint on the canvas. They are choosing those colors for a reason.
The main idea in "purposely" is that the action was not accidental. If you spill coffee on your shirt, that is an accident. But if you purposely pour coffee on your shirt as part of a prank, then "purposely" is the right word.
You will often see "purposely" used for actions that are a bit mischievous, rude, or harmful. For example: "He purposely ignored her warnings," or "The company was accused of purposely misleading investors." But it can also describe helpful or thoughtful actions: "She purposely set aside time each day to read."
While it is similar to words like "intentionally" and "deliberately," purposely often sounds a little more personal and direct. It can suggest that someone knew exactly what they were doing and chose to do it anyway. So when you want to show that an action was not random or accidental, but a clear choice, purposely is a good word to use.
Examples
- 1
Planning
She purposely sat near the door in case she needed to leave early.
Usage
purposely is a little more formal than on purpose in everyday speech
- 2
Denial
I didn't leave your name out purposely.
- 3
Storytelling
The writer purposely kept the ending unclear.
- 4
Clear communication
The company purposely used plain language in the email to avoid confusion.
- 5
Suspicious question
Are you asking that question purposely, or do you really not know the answer?
- 6
Quiet reaction
He smiled, but he purposely said nothing about the mistake.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- purposelyadverb