aim
verb (used with object)
to position or direct (a firearm, ball, arrow, rocket, etc.) so that, on firing or release, the discharged projectile will hit a target or travel along a certain path.
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aim
1 American
[aym]
/ eɪm /
verb (used with object)
-
aims,
present (3rd person singular)
-
aimed,
past participle, past
-
aiming
present participle
-
to position or direct (a firearm, ball, arrow, rocket, etc.) so that, on firing or release, the discharged projectile will hit a target or travel along a certain path.
- Synonyms:
- point
-
to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose.
to aim a satire at snobbery.
verb (used without object)
-
aims,
present (3rd person singular)
-
aimed,
past participle, past
-
aiming
present participle
-
to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward.
He aimed at the target but missed it.
-
to strive; try (usually followed by to orat ).
We aim to please.
They aim at saving something every month.
-
to intend.
She aims to go tomorrow.
-
to direct efforts, as toward an object.
The satire aimed at modern greed.
-
Obsolete. to estimate; guess.
noun
-
aims
plural
-
the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.
-
the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed; the line of sighting.
within the cannon's aim.
-
the point intended to be hit; thing or person aimed at.
to miss one's aim.
-
something intended or desired to be attained by one's efforts; purpose.
whatever his aim in life may be.
-
Obsolete. conjecture; guess.
idioms
AIM
2
American
[aym]
/ eɪm /
noun
aim
1
British
/ eɪm /
verb
-
to point (a weapon, missile, etc) or direct (a blow) at a particular person or object; level
-
(tr) to direct (satire, criticism, etc) at a person, object, etc
-
(intr; foll by at or an infinitive) to propose or intend
we aim to leave early
-
(intr; often foll by at or for) to direct one's efforts or strive (towards)
to aim at better communications
to aim high
noun
-
the action of directing something at an object
-
the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim )
-
the object at which something is aimed; target
-
intention; purpose
AIM
2
British
abbreviation
aim
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
Aim, end, object all imply something that is the goal of one's efforts. Aim implies that toward which one makes a direct line, refusing to be diverted from it: a nobleness of aim; one's aim in life. End emphasizes the goal as a cause of efforts: the end for which one strives. Object emphasizes the goal as that toward which all efforts are directed: the object of years of study.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
aimernoun
-
underaimnoun
-
misaimverb
-
underaimverb
-
aimfuladjective
-
unaimedadjective
-
unaimingadjective
-
well-aimedadjective
-
aimfullyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
aimsimple
-
aimssimple
-
have aimedperfect
-
has aimedperfect
-
am aimingprogressive
-
are aimingprogressive
-
is aimingprogressive
-
have been aimingperfect progressive
-
has been aimingperfect progressive
Past
-
aimedsimple
-
had aimedperfect
-
was aimingprogressive
-
were aimingprogressive
-
had been aimingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of aim
First recorded in 1275–1325; late Middle English aimen, from Anglo-French a(e)smer, eimer, from Old French aesmer, from Vulgar Latin adaestimāre (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin ad- ad- ( def. ) + aestimāre ( see estimate ( def. )); replacing Middle English amen, from Old French (dialectal) amer, from Latin aestimāre
Explanation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing aim
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In 2024, state officials worked with the Biden administration to set new rules for operating California’s main water delivery systems, saying they aim to protect imperiled fish and reliably provide water for Californians.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
These aim to closely replicate the experience of buying a bond outright by holding the fund’s bonds until maturity, then returning that principal to investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Less than two weeks ago, Musk said his artificial-intelligence start-up xAI would aim to more than double its amount of Nvidia chips at its Colossus 2 data center by the end of the year.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
The Cambridge University graduate took aim at tech industry culture, saying companies "run on a startup mindset: move fast, break things, fix them later."
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
If you ever try to squat on top of a toilet, you’ll probably realize that aim becomes a major issue, along with balance and not breaking the hinges of the seat.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
The desk covers all stocks from the largest FTSE100s to the smallest AIM companies across the whole range of industries and subject matters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 19, 2026
The AIM Act is designed to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbon-based refrigerants.
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2025
He said he and Mr Bloom were regularly in London over the following months as they explored taking Pegasus public on the AIM market - part of the London Stock Exchange for growing companies.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2025
But the thing about SmarterChild is the thing about ChatGPT is the thing about talking to the girl you’re in love with on AIM but never in class: It’s not real.
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2025
Why did you delete your AIM profile that first time we talked?
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
The citywide annual event aims to bring technology to everyday consumers and constituents, and AI was one of its biggest concerns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
It aims to encourage more open conversations about grief.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
It also aims to more than triple operating free cash flow at VodafoneThree by fiscal 2032 relative to a fiscal 2025 baseline.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Turba Labs, which aims to optimize AI infrastructure, has raised $52 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Signora Divino lifts one bent finger and aims it at him.
From "The Unfinished Angel" by Sharon Creech
Yields have kept climbing despite Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s surprise announcement in August of a series of increased buybacks of long-dated Treasurys through early November, which was aimed at calming the market.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
In Friday’s interview, Seven & i also gave an update on its plan to list 7-Eleven Inc., a move aimed at unlocking shareholder value and streamlining its business structure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Meta's focus on privacy and security seems aimed at reassuring consumers.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The California Coastal Commission requires that relocation studies be conducted as part of its oversight under the California Coastal Act, a law aimed at protecting the state’s 1,100-mile coastline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
With a rush like the tornadoes of a moment ago, the Ifrit and Merriweather began swirling around and around, the point of their combined cyclone aimed directly at the Mirror.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
“The goal that we are aiming for is to save the Delta,” said Carolee Krieger, executive director of the environmental group California Water Impact Network.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Regulations on AI companion bots took effect in July, aiming to curb emotional dependency and banning the creation of digital clones of real people without their consent.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Wilshere, who is aiming to guide Luton to promotion to the Championship this season, felt one of his managerial strengths was being able to warn his young players of the perils of professional football.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Google is aiming to find out whether data centers can run in space, the WSJ’s Rebecca Cadenhead writes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
She turned back to the cuco and shot her poison dart, aiming for its oversized eyes.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
