aim

[ eym ]

See synonyms for aim on Thesaurus.com

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.

Idioms about aim

take aim, to sight a target: to take aim and fire.

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- + aestimāre (see estimate); replacing Middle English amen, from Old French (dialectal) amer, from 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 for aim

1	point
8	sighting
10	target, objective
11	goal; intent, design

See synonyms for aim on Thesaurus.com

Other words from aim

aimer, noun
aimful, adjective
aim·ful·ly, adverb
mis·aim, verb, noun
un·aimed, adjective
un·aim·ing, adjective
un·der·aim, noun
un·der·aim, verb
well-aimed, adjective

Other definitions for AIM (2 of 2)

AIM

[ eym ]

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

He is a representative of the Free Russia Foundation, an organization which aims to rebuild freedom and democracy in Russia.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015 | Movements.Org | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A major part of the Obama initiative aims to get more and better Internet access for the Cuban people.
Obama Realizes What 10 Presidents Didn’t: Isolating Cuba Doesn’t Work | Christopher Dickey | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
AFP, for its part, aims to get three witnesses or reports for every incident.
ISIS Fighters Are Killing Faster than Statisticians Can Count | Peter Schwartzstein | December 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It aims to eliminate the biggest bottleneck in a bar—processing payments.
How Much Do You Tip A Robot Bartender? | Kayleigh Kulp | October 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Any news group that aims for the elusive ideal of objectivity is de facto liberal, in their view.
Pew Study: Americans Are Self-Segregating Amid Proliferating Partisan Media | John Avlon | October 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Like art, too, on its representative side, play aims at producing an imitation or semblance of something.
Children's Ways | James Sully
The child now aims at constructing a particular linear representation, that of a man, a horse, or what not.
Children's Ways | James Sully
The shortening of the general hours of work, then, should be among the primary aims of social reform.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
Proud as she was of her husband, his aims, and his position in the community, his friends and their themes frankly bored her.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
A short triumph will be followed by a deep mortification, and the selfishness of their aims defeats itself.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley

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 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

Origin of 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

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