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.
aim
1 American
[eym]
/ 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
[eym]
/ 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:
Westminster City Council, hoping to reduce noise and disorder at closing time in Soho and the West End, took aim at what bureaucrats term “high-volume vertical drinking” with new proposed licensing rules.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
New applicants for licenses should aim for “a predominantly seated operation,” the proposal suggests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Egyed moved to Grimes County from Houston eight years ago with the aim of “trying to live out a nice, peaceful rural life.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
Holly: Leeds kept eight clean sheets last season, which is a figure they will aim to improve on with the arrival of former Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford this summer.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Without regard to creed, color, birthplace, occupation, or social conditions. My aim is to do equal and exact justice among them all.”
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Its pubs and bars will stay open through the process, but it has been suspended from trading on London's junior AIM stock exchange.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026
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
By the time SmarterChild logged off for good in 2007 following Microsoft’s acquisition of the company, it had accumulated more than 30 million “buddies” on AIM, Yahoo, and MSN Messenger.
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2025
AIM was how I figured we’d do most of our talking tonight.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks aims to have the watercraft on the lake before fall 2027, and possibly sooner, said General Manager Jimmy Kim.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
This aims to use light-touch regulation to encourage businesses to invest more in AI.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Koch, Inc. aims to ensure all workers are in roles where they can make the greatest contribution relative to other positions and employees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
The consumer-price index, or CPI, aims to measure this phenomenon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Trub crumples up the bag of trash and aims for the garbage can a few feet away.
From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott
Qatar has been a key mediator in the latest round of talks between the U.S. and Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an easing of American economic pressure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
A trust spokesperson said the recommendation, which would still see elective surgery delivered at Causeway, was aimed at ensuring it "can continue to deliver a safe, stable and sustainable service".
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
The good news is that City Council Speaker Julie Menin has been floating proposals aimed at reversing the rise in e-bike mayhem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
It described the move as a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of bystanders and the operational capabilities of authorities to counter potential drones.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
For the Federalist leaders in New England were interested in recruiting Burr as part of a larger scheme that aimed at nothing less than the dismemberment of the American republic.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
So Clarett brought an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, aiming to enter the league earlier than their age restrictions allow.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Colburn acknowledges that it might at first seem "a little ridiculous" that the researchers are aiming for losses that can be described by percentages over kilometers.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
Craig Mulholland, the Scottish FA's chief football officer, said Pocognoli "will bring an aggressive, front-foot style of play that will excite supporters", adding that Scotland are aiming to "evolve from a position of strength".
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
“We’re aiming, of course, for 100% of the users, but it doesn’t mean that there might be challenges in some points.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
He swung the rope, aiming for a protruding outcrop of rock on the other side.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
