target

American  

[tahr-git] / ˈtɑr gɪt /

noun

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

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has targeted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have targeted
  perfect
• have been targeting
  perfect progressive
• has been targeting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is targeting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are targeting
  progressive
• am targeting
  progressive 1st person singular
• targeting
  participle
• targets
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had targeted
  perfect
• were targeting
  progressive plural
• had been targeting
  perfect progressive
• was targeting
  progressive singular
• targeted
  simple
• targeted
  participle

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

The 22-year-old Ukrainian builder had been weaponised to target the UK's head of government.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026

Morgan Stanley bumped its price target for Western Digital stock to $650 from $488, and lifted its Seagate target to $1,035 from $767.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

Fujirebio’s test also measures a protein called beta-amyloid, which can form sticky plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and the target of recently approved drugs for the condition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

This comes after inflation topped 4% in May, moving further away from the Fed’s 2% target, and as concerns grow about the large U.S. deficit.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026

Unless they were using him as target practice, they didn’t want to be associated with their foster brother, and that was all right with Danny.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• aim
• goal
• mark
• object
• objective