Advertisement

View synonyms for aim

aim

1

[eym]

verb (used with object)

  1. 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
  2. to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose.

    to aim a satire at snobbery.



verb (used without object)

  1. to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward.

    He aimed at the target but missed it.

  2. to strive; try (usually followed by to orat ).

    We aim to please.

    They aim at saving something every month.

  3. to intend.

    She aims to go tomorrow.

  4. to direct efforts, as toward an object.

    The satire aimed at modern greed.

  5. Obsolete.,  to estimate; guess.

noun

  1. the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.

  2. the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed; the line of sighting.

    within the cannon's aim.

  3. the point intended to be hit; thing or person aimed at.

    to miss one's aim.

    Synonyms: objective, target
  4. something intended or desired to be attained by one's efforts; purpose.

    whatever his aim in life may be.

    Synonyms: design, intent, goal
  5. Obsolete.,  conjecture; guess.

AIM

2

[eym]

noun

  1. American Indian Movement.

aim

1

/ eɪm /

verb

  1. to point (a weapon, missile, etc) or direct (a blow) at a particular person or object; level

  2. (tr) to direct (satire, criticism, etc) at a person, object, etc

  3. (intr; foll by at or an infinitive) to propose or intend

    we aim to leave early

  4. (intr; often foll by at or for) to direct one's efforts or strive (towards)

    to aim at better communications

    to aim high

“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

noun

  1. the action of directing something at an object

  2. the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim )

  3. the object at which something is aimed; target

  4. intention; purpose

“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

AIM

2

abbreviation

  1. (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
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • aimer noun
  • aimful adjective
  • aimfully adverb
  • misaim verb
  • unaimed adjective
  • unaiming adjective
  • underaim verb
  • well-aimed adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of aim1

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 ( estimate ( def. ) ); replacing Middle English amen, from Old French (dialectal) amer, from Latin aestimāre
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of aim1

C14: via Old French aesmer from Latin aestimāre to estimate
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. take aim, to sight a target.

    to take aim and fire.

More idioms and phrases containing aim

Discover More

Synonym Study

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.
Discover More

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.

Former President Joe Biden pushed hard to increase take-up, aiming for electric cars to account for half of all sales in the US by 2030.

From BBC

Dawn is as skin-deep as it gets, a character with no discernible motives and a frustrating absence of realism in a film that’s desperately aiming for authenticity.

From Salon

The initiative is aimed at ensuring the legacy of England's Women's Rugby World Cup win.

From BBC

The LDP veteran is hawkish on security and aims to revise Japan's pacifist constitution.

From BBC

The state government says shark nets are "not designed to create a total barrier between bathers and sharks" but rather aim to "intercept target sharks" during any hunts which bring them close to the shore.

From BBC

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


ailurophobiaaimak