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

So, she believes the drone operator consciously chose to target them.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

The Fed last week left its benchmark interest rate unchanged even though inflation is running well above the bank’s 2% target.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Policymakers at the US Federal Reserve watch the labor market closely, as their dual mandate requires them to deliver maximum employment while ensuring inflation remains at a long-term target of two percent.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

UBS lifts its target price 2.4% to A$2.61.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Her voice fades as I see my target exit.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

For these targets, the energy required for the full journey may be low enough to make mining and delivery worthwhile.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Boss Renee Slegers is equally bullish about Arsenal's targets for this season and is expecting her players to deliver.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

The German industrial giant said Thursday that it now targets comparable revenue growth at the smart infrastructure division of between 10% and 11%, up from the previous range of 8% to 10%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Journalists covering last month's youth-led protests in India became targets of public anger and attacks over their perceived support for the government, exposing a deepening crisis of trust in traditional broadcasters.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

The targets weren’t much more than fifteen minutes away.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

The group also delivered the targeted 1 billion euros in cost savings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

"The results show how important it is to identify social dynamics early on and provide teams with targeted support," says Schmutz.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Unearthing the spadefoot toad wasn’t the result of a targeted search — it happened by accident, much like many of history’s greatest finds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

It said private residential houses were targeted, with fires reported in two buildings.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

They daren’t confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust; they are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

The FDA approved the first medication to treat narcolepsy by targeting a brain chemical that regulates wakefulness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

As a result, treatments targeting GlyT1 often provided limited benefits and caused unwanted side effects.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Potential tenants LaTerra is targeting include pilots, flight attendants and other people who work at the airport.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Ukraine doesn't want Russia to know what has and hasn't been damaged or reveal details that might aid Moscow in further targeting.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

“That would mean instead of random vandalism, the Purple Thumb is targeting a single company,” he said.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• aim
• goal
• mark
• object
• objective