Like the need for attention, this ties into our natural sociability but it relates to the more profound sense that there are one or more people who really understand us and 'speak our language.' They are commonly partners, members of your family you feel close to, or good friends.
Most therapists are well acquainted with 'Saturday morning syndrome.' This is when patients say they feel fine or at least OK during the week but become overwhelmed with negative feelings at the weekend. It often becomes clear that their need for a sense purpose is fulfilled by work during the week but is left unmet when work is over. On the other hand, many people find they are 'at their best in a crisis' when there is a clear problem that needs to be solved. On a larger scale, there are phenomena like the 'spirit of the Blitz.' Although people were often living in very bad conditions, the sense of purpose in fighting the war (and of course, the fulfilment of other basic needs like the need to feel part of something bigger than oneself) meant that many later looked back on it with nostalgia. The fulfilment of the need for purpose is one reason why voluntary work from fundraising to coaching the school football team can be so rewarding.
One of the (many) reasons why psychological problems seem to increase when a society becomes wealthy is, perhaps, that our sense of purpose is no longer dictated by our biological needs -- the vast majority of us have food, water, and shelter -- and we have to devise our own less obvious, higher purposes.
When a sense of purpose is missing, people sometimes unconsciously create surrogate mini-purposes like hunting for things they do not really need in the shops as 'retail therapy' or pursuing ever-greater wealth for its own sake. These surrogate purposes are quite easy to spot because, although not bad in themselves, they do not provide long-term satisfaction and in some cases can later provoke feelings of regret.
It is important to meet all our needs, of course. Emphasizing fulfilling the need for purpose to the detriment of other needs would not be a good idea!
What gives you a sense of purpose and meaning in life? It could be work, a religious belief, politics, a cause, helping others in some way, teaching, writing a book, or anything else in which the goal is something beyond yourself. If you cannot think of anything, then have a think about what that could be. A tent needs poles to give it structure and form. And so do we.
Next>> The need to feel connected, be stimulated, and have a sense of control