aim

1 of 3

verb

aimed; aiming; aims

intransitive verb

1
: to direct a course
specifically : to point a weapon at an object
Aim carefully before shooting.
2
: aspire, intend
She aims to win.

transitive verb

1
a
: point
aim a gun
b
: to direct toward a specified object or goal
a story aimed at children
2
obsolete : guess, conjecture

aim

2 of 3

noun

plural aims
1
a
: the pointing of a weapon at a mark
She took careful aim.
b
: the ability to hit a target
a shooter with good aim
c
: a weapon's accuracy or effectiveness
The gun's aim is off.
2
: a clearly directed intent or purpose
Our aim is to win.
3
obsolete
b
: the directing of effort toward a goal
4
obsolete : mark, target

see also take aim at

AIM

3 of 3

abbreviation

American Indian Movement
Choose the Right Synonym for aim

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain.

intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

Examples of aim in a Sentence

Verb He aimed the gun carefully before shooting. Don't aim that pistol at me! He aimed carefully before shooting. Try to aim the antenna in the right direction. She aimed the telescope at a point in the eastern sky. She aimed at a point in the eastern sky. He aimed the stone at the dog but missed. The throw from the shortstop was poorly aimed. well-aimed and badly aimed kicks He aimed his criticism primarily at parents. Noun a political movement whose aim is to promote world peace Our ultimate aim is to create something of lasting value. The book has two basic aims. She was unable to achieve her aims. I started this business with the aim of making a profit. He fired at the target but his aim was off and he missed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The as-yet unnamed joint venture is aiming to launch in the fall of 2024. Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Eager to build a case for a post-season tournament berth, the University of Miami women’s basketball team aimed for a home win in the season finale over Georgia Tech on Sunday but fell short 71-66 in overtime. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 The Enquirer's Just Askin' series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, not even Google. Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2024 Reconsideration is not typically granted, but the ruling has been contentious, with lawmakers scrambling to pass bills aimed at protecting in vitro fertilization as IVF clinics began pressing pause on parts of treatments. Isabel Rosales, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 As Israeli troops aim to take control of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, officials in Cairo warn that the move would undermine the 1979 peace treaty. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 California Your guide to the L.A. County district attorney race: 11 candidates aim to unseat Gascón Feb. 1, 2024 Sentencing Enhancements Gascón has taken flak for many of his reform-minded policies, with his heavy limitations on the filing of sentencing enhancements chief among them. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Last September, Maine met its goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps in households two years ahead of schedule, and is aiming to install another 175,000 by 2027. Cara Buckley, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 This project aimed to cut emissions by 70% by 2035, showcasing how digital twins can be used beyond traditional supply chain applications to address sustainability challenges and improve operational efficiency on a large scale. Oleg Fonarov, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
That's in addition to notices informing you when your password or other personal information has been changed, with the aim of avoiding identity theft. The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2024 Entrepreneurs should dedicate quality time with the management team to reflect on the achievements of the past year, with the aim of reinforcing them in the coming year. Jose Luis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Under the plan, member states would have to meet restoration targets for specific habitats and species, with the aim of covering at least 20% of the region’s land and sea areas by 2030. Raf Casert, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 Among these purposes demining, training and assistance in local production of weapons appear possible, all with the aim of defending against further Russian advances, but without participation in any offensive Ukrainian action. Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Heat pumps don’t generally work so well in very cold climates—given that the aim is to use heat from outside to warm buildings’ insides—but that may soon change. David Meyer, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 The aim was to give authorities early warning of an unfolding disaster. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 The aim of the canvassing initiative is twofold: bring prevention supplies directly to people who may not otherwise seek it out themselves, and spread awareness about overdoses beyond the neighborhood of Kensington. Nicole Leonard | Whyy, NPR, 26 Feb. 2024 Originally, tourist tax was introduced by certain governments with the aim of tempering overtourism and generating income from large numbers of travelers entering the destination. Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French aesmer & esmer; Anglo-French aesmer, from a- (from Latin ad-) + esmer to estimate, from Latin aestimare

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of aim was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near aim

Cite this Entry

“Aim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aim. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aim

1 of 2 verb
1
: to point a weapon
2
: aspire, intend
aims to please
3
: to direct to or toward an object or goal
aim a camera

aim

2 of 2 noun
1
: the directing of a weapon or a missile at a mark
2

More from Merriam-Webster on aim

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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