aim

/eɪm/

/eɪm/

Other forms: aimed; aims; aiming

If you wad up a piece of paper and line up a shot at a wastebasket, you are taking aim. If instead, the paper bounces off your teacher's head, then your aim was way off.

A purpose or goal is an aim. When you were little, your aim might have been to be a famous astronaut, a movie star, or a police officer. As a verb, aim means to intend, try, or aspire. You may aim to take your dog for three walks every day, but your fenced-in yard tends to make both of you lazy.

Definitions of aim
  1. verb
    point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
    “Please don't aim at your little brother!”
    synonyms: direct, take, take aim, train
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    types:
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    direct, place, point, target
    intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
    draw a bead on
    aim with a gun
    hold
    aim, point, or direct
    turn
    direct at someone
    swing
    hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement
    charge, level, point
    direct into a position for use
    level
    aim at
    sight
    take aim by looking through the sights of a gun (or other device)
    address
    direct a question at someone
    home in, range in, zero in
    direct onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids
    type of:
    position
    cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation
  2. verb
    intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
    “He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face”
    synonyms: direct, place, point, target
    see moresee less
    types:
    address
    direct a question at someone
    home in, range in, zero in
    direct onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids
    type of:
    direct, take, take aim, train
    point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
  3. noun
    the action of directing something at an object
    “he took aim and fired”
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    type of:
    direction, guidance, steering
    the act of setting and holding a course
  4. noun
    the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
    synonyms: bearing, heading
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    types:
    tack
    the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails
    type of:
    direction, way
    a line leading to a place or point
  5. verb
    propose or intend
    “I aim to arrive at noon”
    synonyms: propose, purport, purpose
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    type of:
    intend, mean, think
    have in mind as a purpose
  6. verb
    have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
    synonyms: aspire, draw a bead on, shoot for
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    types:
    overshoot
    aim too high
    overrun
    run beyond or past
    type of:
    be after, plan
    have the will and intention to carry out some action
  7. verb
    move into a desired direction of discourse
    synonyms: drive, get
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    type of:
    intend, mean
    mean or intend to express or convey
  8. verb
    specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public
    synonyms: calculate, direct
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    type of:
    designate, destine, intend, specify
    design or destine
  9. noun
    the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)
    synonyms: object, objective, target
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    types:
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    grail
    the object of any prolonged endeavor
    business
    an immediate objective
    point
    the object of an activity
    thing
    a special objective
    occasions
    something you have to do
    type of:
    end, goal
    the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it
  10. noun
    an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
    “it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs”
    synonyms: design, intent, intention, mission, purpose
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    types:
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    idea, mind
    your intention; what you intend to do
    cross-purpose
    a contrary aim
    final cause
    (philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process
    sake
    the purpose of achieving or obtaining
    view
    purpose; the phrase `with a view to' means `with the intention of' or `for the purpose of'
    will
    a fixed and persistent intent or purpose
    type of:
    end, goal
    the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it
  11. verb
    direct (a remark) toward an intended goal
    “She wanted to aim a pun”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    intend, mean
    mean or intend to express or convey
Pronunciation
US

/eɪm/
UK

/eɪm/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘aim'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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