serve a purpose
idiom
: to have a particular use or function : to be useful or helpful in some way
Everything on the boat serves a purpose.
Examples of serve a purpose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With your teams, identify frustrating rules — or policies that people perceive to be rules — that no longer serve a purpose.
—
Lisa Bodell, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
All of that suggests that law enforcement disruption campaigns serve a purpose.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 27 Feb. 2024
Though ships now can navigate via GPS, the flashing light and bellowing horn still serve a purpose, Foregger tells his guests.
—Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
These volunteers serve a purpose greater than themselves.
—Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2023
Both approaches serve a purpose, which is why in my opinion both are necessary for true portfolio diversification.
—Eric Satz, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
Public sector employees serve a purpose greater than themselves.
—Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2023
However, these elements also serve a purpose; for example, the shape of the butterfly roof helps to naturally cool the interiors.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2023
That isn't to say that Walmart's stable of digital-native brands didn't serve a purpose early on.
—George Anderson, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023
Lisa Bodell, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
All of that suggests that law enforcement disruption campaigns serve a purpose.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 27 Feb. 2024
Though ships now can navigate via GPS, the flashing light and bellowing horn still serve a purpose, Foregger tells his guests.
—Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
These volunteers serve a purpose greater than themselves.
—Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2023
Both approaches serve a purpose, which is why in my opinion both are necessary for true portfolio diversification.
—Eric Satz, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
Public sector employees serve a purpose greater than themselves.
—Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2023
However, these elements also serve a purpose; for example, the shape of the butterfly roof helps to naturally cool the interiors.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2023
That isn't to say that Walmart's stable of digital-native brands didn't serve a purpose early on.
—George Anderson, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'serve a purpose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near serve a purpose
Cite this Entry
“Serve a purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serve%20a%20purpose. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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