aim
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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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
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to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose.
to aim a satire at snobbery.
verb (used without object)
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to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward.
He aimed at the target but missed it.
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to strive; try (usually followed by to orat ).
We aim to please.
They aim at saving something every month.
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to intend.
She aims to go tomorrow.
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to direct efforts, as toward an object.
The satire aimed at modern greed.
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Obsolete. to estimate; guess.
noun
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the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.
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the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed; the line of sighting.
within the cannon's aim.
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the point intended to be hit; thing or person aimed at.
to miss one's aim.
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something intended or desired to be attained by one's efforts; purpose.
whatever his aim in life may be.
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Obsolete. conjecture; guess.
idioms
noun
verb
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to point (a weapon, missile, etc) or direct (a blow) at a particular person or object; level
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(tr) to direct (satire, criticism, etc) at a person, object, etc
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(intr; foll by at or an infinitive) to propose or intend
we aim to leave early
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(intr; often foll by at or for) to direct one's efforts or strive (towards)
to aim at better communications
to aim high
noun
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the action of directing something at an object
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the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim )
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the object at which something is aimed; target
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intention; purpose
abbreviation
Related Words
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
- aimer noun
- aimful adjective
- aimfully adverb
- misaim verb
- unaimed adjective
- unaiming adjective
- underaim noun
- well-aimed adjective
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.
Utah has expressed interest in investing in more Pacific Ocean desalination plants, with the aim of securing more rights to the Colorado River from California, which holds the largest share of any state.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
“The aim of the measures is to allow third party online search engines, or ‘data beneficiaries’, to optimize their search services and contest Google Search’s position,” the Commission said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026
One can enter here and aim for a move toward $310 by mid 2026, an 18% gain from current prices.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
The aim was to get him to have a nap, but he did not want to go to sleep.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
They aim for a door at the rear of the spa.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
