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• on-target
  on-target

  adjective

  correct, accurate, or adhering closely to an anticipated outcome.
• on target
  on target

  Completely accurate, wholly valid, as in Our cost estimates were right on target, or His criticisms were on target. This seemingly old expression dates only from the mid-1900s, and the colloquial use of target for a goal one wishes to achieve dates from about 1940.

on-target

American  

[on-tahr-git, awn-] / ˈɒnˈtɑr gɪt, ˈɔn- /

adjective

1. correct, accurate, or adhering closely to an anticipated outcome.

   an on-target forecast for the weekend weather.

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on target Idioms  

1. Completely accurate, wholly valid, as in Our cost estimates were right on target, or His criticisms were on target. This seemingly old expression dates only from the mid-1900s, and the colloquial use of target for a goal one wishes to achieve dates from about 1940.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on-target on target

Rojas tweaked his back in Game 3 when his feet slid out from under him in the slick grass in shallow right field as he made an on-target throw to first base.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

McGregor's superb effort was Celtic's first on-target effort of the entire game and came beyond the four minutes of added-on time indicated by the match officials.

From Barron's ● Nov. 22, 2025

Last time out, a 3-1 defeat at rivals Bournemouth, Saints had almost 60% possession but only created three on-target chances.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2024

The defender had daring tackles against Balcer and helped Bay limit the Reign to eight shots, three on-target.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 14, 2024

I would kick that red ball far into the outfield: hard, and on-target.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

“It’s elevated, but it’s not high,” Piti said, adding that this year’s inflation is set to come in on target.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

The coalition is on target to have more than 200 sites operational by the end of the year, Cutler said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

"The only thing in my mind was hit it as hard as possible on target," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

However clinical Newcastle were in the opening weeks of the campaign, they mustered just eight efforts on target against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth before their trip to Elland Road.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Michael was smartly on target as far as she could tell.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• clear-cut
• definite
• definitive
• different
• distinct
• exact
• explicit
• individual
• limited
• peculiar
• precise
• special
• specialized
• unambiguous
• unequivocal
• unique