On purpose
Example: She broke the vase on purpose to get attention.
Definition
"On purpose" means doing something intentionally or deliberately, with a clear aim or reason. It indicates that an action is not accidental but planned or meant to happen, as in the example: She broke the vase on purpose to get attention.
Etymology
The phrase "on purpose" comes from the combination of "on," meaning 'in the manner of,' and "purpose," derived from Old French 'pourpos' meaning 'intention' or 'aim.' It has been used since the late Middle Ages to express intentionality. Did you know? The word "purpose" originally implied a 'setting forth' or 'proposition,' highlighting how actions done 'on purpose' are thoughtfully planned.
Learn to use this expression actively
"On purpose" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A2) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
