Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

on-target

American  
[on-tahr-git, awn-] / ˈɒnˈtɑr gɪt, ˈɔn- /

adjective

  1. correct, accurate, or adhering closely to an anticipated outcome.

    an on-target forecast for the weekend weather.
on target Idioms  

  1. Completely accurate, wholly valid, as in Our cost estimates were right on target, or His criticisms were on target. This seemingly old expression dates only from the mid-1900s, and the colloquial use of target for a goal one wishes to achieve dates from about 1940.

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.

His 'expected goals on target conceded' tally - which measures the likelihood of an on-target shot resulting in a goal - is 20.85.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

McGregor's superb effort was Celtic's first on-target effort of the entire game and came beyond the four minutes of added-on time indicated by the match officials.

From Barron's • Nov. 22, 2025

From there, Kaj delivered an on-target pitch/roll to Betts, who brought the ball back to his son.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2025

"Bispecifics in general are an important technology that offer significant advantages in on-target anticancer potency," he says.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2024

I would kick that red ball far into the outfield: hard, and on-target.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

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.