shoot for

Idioms  

1. Strive or aim for, as in We're shooting for higher production by spring. This term, alluding to aiming at something with a weapon, has largely replaced the earlier shoot at, which dates from the 1400s.

---

Example Sentences

Here’s a very simple example, but it may give you something to shoot for.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

"It means so much to me. We can be a mother and also shoot for these crazy big goals, more than ever. It's definitely not going to scare me away from any goals," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

But if you shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars—or however the saying goes.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

A meritocracy sets a standard, posits an ideal, gives the more ambitious people in a society something to look up to and to shoot for.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

“I think we’re going to shoot for visiting every other weekend,” Bram says.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

Related Words

• argue
• confront
• cope
• dispute
• go after
• grapple
• meet
• oppose
• push for
• resist
• vie