aim

[ eym ]

/ eɪm /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR aim

1 point.

8 sighting.

10 target, objective.

11 goal; intent, design.

See synonyms for aim on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Idioms about aim

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

synonym study for aim

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM aim

aimer, nounaimful, adjectiveaim·ful·ly, adverbmis·aim, verb, noun

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

Other definitions 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. 2023

How to use aim in a sentence

The FTC took aim at Facebook almost immediately after wrapping up a privacy investigation that saddled the company with a $5 billion penalty.
State, federal antitrust lawsuits likely to challenge Facebook for buying rivals and weaponizing data|Tony Romm|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Aim Lab runs on Steam and replicates the physics of popular video games to give users a training environment to practice their aim.
Gaming startup Statespace raises $29 million, tops 1.5 million MAUs|Jordan Crook|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch
E-commerce websites have grown in popularity, and so has taking a legal aim at them.
Is your website at risk for an ADA accessibility lawsuit?|Richard Horvath|November 12, 2020|Search Engine Land
We are working to better understand these dynamics and identify ways to counter them, with the aim of helping people become more resistant to manipulation.
Five election misinformation campaigns to avoid resharing|By Starbird, West, & DiResta/The Conversation|November 6, 2020|Popular-Science

According to well-placed sources, Starling has hired Rothschild with the aim of raising a new £200 million round.
Challenger bank Starling is out raising a new £200M funding round|Steve O'Hear|November 6, 2020|TechCrunch
On nose plus aimer la vrit daujourdhui depuis quon ne sait jamais quelle sera celle de demain!
The Story of Perugia|Margaret Symonds
In the first case the unaccented, in the second the accented form has prevailed—Modern French parle, parler; aime, aimer.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 1 "Franciscans" to "French Language"|Various
Il n'y a d'amour que de ma part; la dame que j'aime ne veut pas m'aimer!
The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2)|Anna Jameson
Aimer quelqu'un, c'est à la fois lui ôter le droit, et lui donner la puissance de nous faire souffrir.
Prisoners|Mary Cholmondeley
Entre deux amants il-y-a toujours un qui aime, et un qui se laisse aimer.
Mrs. Craddock|W. Somerset Maugham

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with aim

aim

In addition to the idiom beginning with aim

aim to

also see:

take aim

aim

OTHER WORDS FOR aim

Idioms about aim

Origin of aim

synonym study for aim

OTHER WORDS FROM aim

Other definitions for aim (2 of 2)

Words related to aim

How to use aim in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aim (1 of 2)

Word Origin for aim

British Dictionary definitions for aim (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with aim