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.
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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
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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:
She then took aim at US leadership, as former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden looked on, along with current Vice President JD Vance.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
The DfT said the trains would help deliver the Transpennine Route Upgrade's aim to boost capacity by 30%, with thousands of additional seats a day across the Pennines by the early to mid-2030s.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
And most recently, states have been scrapping tax incentives that aim to lure data-center projects to their states, which would cost the builders billions of dollars, the Wall Street Journal reported.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
They aim for an initial demonstration within two years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
I paused, took aim, and launched myself into the air.
From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
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
“Volume growth was driven by stronger demand for Opteon…in connection with the stationary air conditioning…transition under the U.S. AIM Act,” said the company.
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2025
But the thing about SmarterChild is the thing about ChatGPT is the thing about talking to the girl you’re in love with on AIM but never in class: It’s not real.
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
Because it does, says Daniel Lozano, CEO of Kindworks.ai, a workplace-software company that aims to bolster kindness at the office.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
Not that “Widow’s Bay” aims to be existential.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
It is part of a long-running "Rescue a Reef" program run by the University of Miami that aims to advance conservation efforts and raise public awareness.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
So, one of the most important aims of our project is to implement a preventive conservation and risk management program that safeguards these monuments for future generations.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
Ray unwinds the hose from the side of the house and aims the nozzle at the door, and I turn the water on.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
This week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills aimed at strengthening transparency requirements for the leading AI companies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
But Clockwork isn’t solely aimed at repertory restorations, either.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
That second mechanism could potentially close off one of the escape routes that limits therapies aimed at only a single cancer marker.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
Meet Deere’s JD, an AI assistant aimed at helping farmers—and its sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
In the twentieth century, what Madison aimed to achieve would have required a decision by the Supreme Court.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
In October, Warner Bros.’ new boutique sub-label, Clockwork, will release its highly anticipated restoration of Ken Russell’s 1971 religious horror, “The Devils,” aiming for a wide theatrical release.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
It doesn’t matter the subject or setting, Carter is always aiming to communicate a particular mood: “ethereal and uplifting.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Now the 28-year-old is aiming for a third opportunity to reach his first Grand Slam final.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Both companies are aiming for initial public offerings soon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
They had been compensating for it by aiming our rockets at a small angle against whatever direction the wind was coming.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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.
