ADJ
- limited
- chief, main, primary, prime, principal
- true
- sole
- practical, useful
- These bars serve no useful purpose
- general
- a general-purpose cleaning fluid
- common
- a group of individuals sharing a common purpose
- particular, special, specific
- dual
- a toy with the dual purpose of entertaining and developing memory skills
- stated
- social
- the view that art should serve a social purpose
VERB + PURPOSE
- have
- lack
- accomplish, achieve, fulfil, serve
- The scheme achieved its primary purpose, if nothing else
PREP
- for a/the ~
- I put the chair there for a purpose. a measure introduced for the purpose of protecting the interests of investors
- on ~
- (= intentionally) He slammed the door on purpose
PHRASES
- at cross purposes (= not understanding or having the same aims, etc. as each other)
- I finally realized that we were talking at cross purposes
- for/with the express purpose of sth
- The school was founded with the express purpose of teaching deaf children to speak
- for (all) practical purposes
- Nominally she is the secretary, but for all practical purposes she runs the place
- purpose-built
- The cycling events will take place in a purpose-built 20,000-seater stadium
- your purpose in life
- She saw being a doctor as her purpose in life
- put/use sth to (a/ some) purpose
- The old mill has been put to good purpose
- a sense of purpose
- Encouraged by her example, they all set to work with a fresh sense of purpose
- strength of purpose
- They had great confidence and strength of purpose
ADJ
- administrative, business, commercial, domestic, educational, insurance, legal, medical, medicinal, political, research, tax, teaching
- You will need to have the vehicle valued for insurance purposes
PREP
- for … ~
- The drug can be sold for medicinal purposes only
- for the ~s of
- Let's assume he knows, for the purposes of our argument