target

American  

[tahr-git] / ˈtɑr gɪt /

noun

• targets
  plural

1. an object, usually marked with concentric circles, to be aimed at in shooting practice or contests.

2. any object used for this purpose.

3. anything fired at.

4. a goal to be reached.

   Synonyms:

   purpose, end, aim

5. an object of abuse, scorn, derision, etc.; butt.

6. Fencing. the portion of a fencer's body where a touch can be scored.

7. a disk-shaped signal, as at a railroad switch, indicating the position of a switch.

8. Surveying.

   1. the sliding sight on a leveling rod.

   2. any marker on which sights are taken.

9. a small shield, usually round, carried by a foot soldier; buckler.

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adjective

1. that is or may be a target or goal.

   The target group consisted of college graduates who earned more than $50,000 a year.

verb (used with object)

• targets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• targeted,
  past participle,  past
• targeting
  present participle

1. to use, set up, or designate as a target or goal.

2. to direct toward a target.

   The new warheads can be targeted with great precision.

3. to make a target of (an object, person, city, etc.) for attack or bombardment.

verb phrase

1. target (in) on to establish or use as a target or goal.

   The club is targeting on September for the move to larger quarters.

idioms

1. on target,

   1. properly aimed or on the right course toward a target.

   2. accurate, correct, or valid.

      Their description of the event was on target.

   3. filling or meeting a requirement or expectations.

      The amount of supplies we took was right on target.

target British  

/ ˈtɑːɡɪt /

noun

1. 1. an object or area at which an archer or marksman aims, usually a round flat surface marked with concentric rings

   2. ( as modifier )

      target practice

2. 1. any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid

   2. ( as modifier )

      target area

      target company

3. a fixed goal or objective

   the target for the appeal is £10 000

4. a person or thing at which an action or remark is directed or the object of a person's feelings

   a target for the teacher's sarcasm

5. a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck

6. surveying a marker on which sights are taken, such as the sliding marker on a levelling staff

7. (formerly) a small round shield

8. physics electronics

   1. a substance, object, or system subjected to bombardment by electrons or other particles, or to irradiation

   2. an electrode in a television camera tube whose surface, on which image information is stored, is scanned by the electron beam

9. electronics an object to be detected by the reflection of a radar or sonar signal, etc

10. on the correct course to meet a target or objective

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verb

1. to make a target of

2. to direct or aim

   to target benefits at those most in need

target More Idioms  

1. see on target; sitting duck (target).

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• targetable
  adjective
• targetless
  adjective
• untargetable
  adjective
• untargeted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• targets
  plural

Participles

• targeting
  present
• targeted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• target
  simple
• targets
  simple
• have targeted
  perfect
• has targeted
  perfect
• am targeting
  progressive
• are targeting
  progressive
• is targeting
  progressive
• have been targeting
  perfect progressive
• has been targeting
  perfect progressive

Past

• targeted
  simple
• had targeted
  perfect
• was targeting
  progressive
• were targeting
  progressive
• had been targeting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will target
  simple
• will have targeted
  perfect
• will be targeting
  progressive
• will have been targeting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of target

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun, from Middle French targuete, variant of targete “small shield” see targe, -et

Explanation

A target is something to shoot at, either real or figurative. If you're an archer, you're aiming for the bull's-eye on the target. If you're selling cars for a living, then you likely have a sales target you need to hit. You can hit a target, which is usually a good thing, or, less happily, you can be a target, such as a target of ridicule when you wear that goofy Swiss cheese hat and you aren't even from Wisconsin. As a marketing ploy, you could target Green Bay Packer season ticket holders when you decide to unload that hat. You might find a buyer among them, someone who wouldn't worry about being a target for those who object to silly hats.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

target targets targeted targeting

The U.S. should set a national production target worthy of our history: 200,000 tons of American magnesium annually by 2030, roughly the level reached in 1943.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

BBC Sport has consistently reported over the summer that Alvarez is viewed as the Gunners' dream transfer target.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

One key debate is over whether the company will raise its server target.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

The tariffs will target US steel and dairy, while also covering sectors like agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, as well as electronics.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

It was a seventy-minute flight to the target, a small torpedo boat base in the port town of Hon Gai.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

His high-profile targets went on to include the future French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 1997 -- although in that case he had an accomplice lob the actual pie for fear of being recognised.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

This vaccine is different: A surgeon removes the tumor and sends it to a lab, where its mutations are sequenced and an algorithm identifies the targets for a personalized mRNA vaccine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

The vaccine analyzes a patient’s tumor, selects up to 34 mutations as targets and trains the immune system to recognize them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

The targets included SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, as well as other widespread viruses and bacteria and targets associated with autoimmune diseases.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

“Each night we struck at new targets and each night we slept in a new place, under the wings of our aircraft. This was our work area, bedroom, and dining room.”

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Some American cities and states have appealed for Canadians to return through targeted advertisements and special deals.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Notably, Bessent didn’t mention China, the regime’s top trading partner, in his opening remarks about countries being targeted by the Treasury Department.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

In a survey this month from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 40% of exporters reported that they sold products that would be targeted by the tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Against the Chiefs, he was targeted five times and had two catches for 18 yards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

One reason is that music and identity are closely related, and groups or cohorts of people listen to particular songs targeted toward their age group produced by the market-driven music business.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Treasury yields ended the week higher, even after the Treasury Department said it will double to $4 billion the size of each buyback operation targeting long-dated bonds, starting next month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The targeting of oil refineries has continued apace.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

"Even if one judge were to die, we are easily replaceable, so there is really no value in targeting us," she said after the Russian announcement.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Higher levels of antibodies targeting common microbes, including Staphylococcus aureus, RSV and human respirovirus 3, were associated with stronger responses to COVID-19 vaccines.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

He was blinking hard now, like he could barely see, and I realized he was targeting by the sound of my voice.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• aim
• goal
• mark
• object
• objective