target

[ tahr-git ]

/ ˈtɑr gɪt /

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See synonyms for: target / targeted / targeting / targets on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

any object used for this purpose.

anything fired at.

a goal to be reached.

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

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

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

Surveying.

the sliding sight on a leveling rod.
any marker on which sights are taken.

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

adjective

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)

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

to direct toward a target: The new warheads can be targeted with great precision.

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

Verb Phrases

target (in) on, to establish or use as a target or goal: The club is targeting on September for the move to larger quarters.

OTHER WORDS FOR target

4 aim, end, purpose.

See synonyms for target on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about target

on target,

properly aimed or on the right course toward a target.
accurate, correct, or valid: Their description of the event was on target.
filling or meeting a requirement or expectations: The amount of supplies we took was right on target.

Origin of target

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) <Middle French targuete, variant of targete small shield. See targe, -et

OTHER WORDS FROM target

tar·get·a·ble, adjectivetar·get·less, adjectiveun·tar·get·a·ble, adjectiveun·tar·get·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use target in a sentence

Vice Media, the millennial-focused digital media company, announced plans a month later to buy Refinery29, which targets young women.
Ezra Klein leaves Vox, the website he founded, for New York Times, in a digital media A-list exodus|Paul Farhi, Sarah Ellison|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The realization that CRISPR could be programmed to target any piece of DNA allowed it to be transformed into a genome-editing platform with limitless utility.
With CRISPR, humans can create their own evolutionary future|Adrian Woolfson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
After trading for Chris Paul, the Suns clearly targeted Smith to balance out a frontcourt rotation lacking in interior physicality.
NBA draft winners and losers: A win for LaMelo Ball, woe for the Warriors|Ben Golliver|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Most of the time, they make apprehensions without resistance — and oftentimes their targets are armed.
Fugitive who died in gun battle with Md. police killed his estranged girlfriend in Fla., authorities say|Dan Morse|November 18, 2020|Washington Post

The collaborations aim to identify strategies to advance the need to collect race, ethnicity, and other health disparities and equity measures and produce targeted equity dashboards in collaboration with employers, health plans, and health systems.
COVID-19 reminds us of the need to focus on health equity|jakemeth|November 17, 2020|Fortune
Abraham, a yellow cab driver and student, feels that blacks are targeted unfairly by the police.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A drawing of three skulls along with a message in English appeared on computer screens at the targeted firms.
Inside the ‘Surprisingly Great’ North Korean Hacker Hotel|Michael Daly|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Wednesday, U.S. warplanes targeted a car he was traveling in on the eastern side of the city.
Iraqi Kurds Get Their Groove Back, End Siege of Mount Sinjar|Jamie Dettmer|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Sept. 7, 1996, Tupac was targeted and killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
Rapper Bobby Shmurda Arrested at New York’s Notorious Quad Studios|M.L. Nestel|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A prime example: your “real name” policy, which unfairly targeted the LGBTQ community.
10 Things That Made Us Want to Turn Off the Internet Forever in 2014|The Daily Beast|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Military force would be applied in a purer form and targeted primarily against the military capabilities of an opponent.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman
Jordan gave no hint of how Buck's shaft might have targeted his intentions, but climbed into the car and started it.
Rimrock Trail|J. Allan Dunn
Even the big boats take one of two that are buoyed and targeted.
Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes|Louis Arundel
The perception that he personally might be targeted appeared to get Gadhafi's attention.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman
He saw the man he had targeted drop his bow and fall to the ground.
The Saracen: The Holy War|Robert Shea

British Dictionary definitions for target

target

/ (ˈtɑːɡɪt) /

noun

an object or area at which an archer or marksman aims, usually a round flat surface marked with concentric rings
(as modifier)target practice

any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid
(as modifier)target area; target company

a fixed goal or objectivethe target for the appeal is £10 000

a person or thing at which an action or remark is directed or the object of a person's feelingsa target for the teacher's sarcasm

a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck

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

(formerly) a small round shield

physics electronics

a substance, object, or system subjected to bombardment by electrons or other particles, or to irradiation
an electrode in a television camera tube whose surface, on which image information is stored, is scanned by the electron beam

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

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

verb -gets, -geting or -geted (tr)

to make a target of

to direct or aimto target benefits at those most in need

Derived forms of target

targetless, adjective

Word Origin for target

C14: from Old French targette a little shield, from Old French targe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with target

target

see on target; sitting duck (target).

target

OTHER WORDS FOR target

Idioms about target

Origin of target

OTHER WORDS FROM target

Words related to target

How to use target in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for target

Derived forms of target

Word Origin for target

Other Idioms and Phrases with target