aimless
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aimless
Explanation
If you're aimless, you don't have a destination or a goal in mind. Aimless wandering through a forest might take you in circles, or worse yet, get you lost. The adjective aimless is good for describing things that have no particular purpose or plan. You might prefer traveling with a map or GPS, while your best friend likes to drive in an aimless way, turning down dirt roads or exiting the highway impulsively. When you call a person aimless, you probably mean that he doesn't appear to have any ambition: "My brother's an aimless drifter." Aimless comes from aim, "purpose" or "target."
Vocabulary lists containing aimless
Achievement First 6th Grade IA 1 Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"La Vida Robot" and "Reading, Writing and... Recreation"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Bill Withers (1938–2020) Tribute List
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Her target, a pudgy, ginger Benjamin Braddock with a vague intent to launch a podcast, is the aimless Gen Z’er Elliot, perfectly played by Cooper Hoffman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The "constant delay and aimless stumbling" around the project had made any planned recovery even more "painful, slow and difficult", as the town's experienced salt workers were now long retired or dead, he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
“You hold yourself accountable for saving and spending. And that in turn prevents you from aimless or unthinking financial behavior.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
It would take roughly 12 hours to watch the show from start to finish, but Stoschek and Kittelmann recommend an hour or two of aimless wandering.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2026
The sounds of Latin would sometimes blur my attention to induce an aimless drift inward.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
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.
