adv
Uncommon
purposely
PUR-puhs-lee
Purposely (adv) means On purpose; deliberately, not by accident. Example: “He purposely left the door unlocked for her.”
adv
1
On purpose; deliberately, not by accident.
"He purposely left the door unlocked for her."
How to use purposely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDone deliberately, as opposed to by accident.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more purposely
- Superlative
- most purposely
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ left the door unlocked for her.
Etymology
From purpose plus the adverb suffix -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for purposely
See all rhymes for purposely →Frequently asked questions
What does “purposely” mean?
The word “purposely” means on purpose; deliberately, not by accident. In plain terms, done deliberately, as opposed to by accident.
How do you pronounce “purposely”?
“Purposely” is pronounced PUR-puhs-lee (/ˈpɝpəsli/ in IPA).
How do you use “purposely” in a sentence?
Here is “purposely” used in a sentence: “He purposely left the door unlocked for her.”
What part of speech is “purposely”?
“Purposely” is an adverb.
Is “purposely” a common word?
“Purposely” is an uncommon word in modern English.
