aim

[ eym ]

/ eɪm /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR aim ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose: to aim a satire at snobbery.

verb (used without object)

to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward: He aimed at the target but missed it.

to strive; try (usually followed by to or at): 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

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.

Nearby words

ailment, ailurophile, ailurophilia, ailurophobe, ailurophobia, aim, aim to, aimak, aimee, aiming point, aimless

Idioms

take aim, to sight a target: to take aim and fire.

Origin of aim

1275–1325; late Middle English aimen < Anglo-French a(e)smer, eimer, Old French aesmer < Vulgar Latin *adaestimāre, equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + aestimāre (see estimate); replacing Middle English amen < Old French (dial.) amer < Latin aestimāre

SYNONYMS FOR aim

1 point.

8 sighting.

10 target, objective.

11 goal; intent, design.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR aim ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

aim·er, nounaim·ful, adjectiveaim·ful·ly, adverbmis·aim, verb, noun

un·aimed, adjectiveun·aim·ing, adjectiveun·der·aim, nounun·der·aim, verbwell-aimed, adjective

Synonym study

11. 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.

Definition for aim (2 of 2)

AIM

[ eym ]

/ eɪm /

noun

American Indian Movement.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aim

And, as Gow adds wryly from his own personal experience, “To a huge extent they achieved that aim very well.”
‘Nazi Cows’ Tried to Kill British Farmer|Tom Sykes|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To “link up the beachheads and peg out claims well inland” was necessarily the first aim of Overlord.
Blood in the Sand: When James Jones Wrote a Grunt’s View of D-Day|James Jones|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their aim was to make beautiful art—and hopefully spark a conversation.
Anatomy of a Drone Porn: ‘Drone Boning’ Makes Sex Look Like Art|Aurora Snow|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It just seemed Monday night, as it has throughout, that her aim was off.
Mitch McConnell-Alison Lundergan Grimes Debate Leaves Kentucky Hanging|Sam Youngman|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The aim is very pragmatic and much less idealistic than, say, similar protests in Egypt or Turkey in the last few years.
Beijing/Hong Kong: A Tale of Two Cities as Demonstrations Continue|Ben Leung|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was my aim to convince your grandfather that all the money in the world cannot bring about the result you desire.
From the Housetops|George Barr McCutcheon
The science which has this approximation for its aim, is polity.
A History of Philosophy in Epitome|Albert Schwegler
Of course, the real force of the aim lies in its serving as the focus of thought.
Principles of Teaching|Adam S. Bennion
It was his aim while in the service of the Bavarian Government to better the condition of the people.
The Story of Great Inventions|Elmer Ellsworth Burns
Sylvia just now had tried to convince him that his aim was permanently turned aside.
The Guarded Heights|Wadsworth Camp

British Dictionary definitions for aim (1 of 2)

aim

/ (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 intendwe 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

Word Origin for aim

C14: via Old French aesmer from Latin aestimāre to estimate

British Dictionary definitions for aim (2 of 2)

AIM

abbreviation for

(in Britain) Alternative Investment Market

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for aim (1 of 2)

aim

early 14c., "to estimate, calculate," also "to intend," from Old French aesmer "value, rate; count, estimate," from Latin aestimare "appraise" (see estimation); current meaning apparently developed from "esteem," to "calculate," to "calculate with a view to action" (c.1400), then to "direct a missile, a blow, etc." (1570s). Related: Aimed; aiming.

Word Origin and History for aim (1 of 2)

aim

early 14c., "target;" late 14c., "guess;" from aim (v.). Meaning "action of aiming" is from early 15c. (to take aim, originally make aim); that of "thing intended, purpose" is from 1620s.

Idioms and Phrases with aim

aim

In addition to the idiom beginning with aim

aim to

also see:

take aim

aim

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of aim

Synonym study

Definition for aim (2 of 2)

AIM

noun

Examples from the Web for aim

British Dictionary definitions for aim (1 of 2)

aim

verb

noun

Word Origin for aim

British Dictionary definitions for aim (2 of 2)

AIM

abbreviation for

Word Origin and History for aim (1 of 2)

aim

Word Origin and History for aim (1 of 2)

aim

Idioms and Phrases with aim

aim