aim
[verb]
Synonyms:
- intend, attempt, endeavour, mean, plan, point, propose, seek, set one's sights on, strive, try
[noun]
Synonyms:
- intention, ambition, aspiration, desire, goal, objective, plan, purpose, target

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Related Idioms: draw a bead on, take aim, have an eye to, reach for the stars, set one's eyes upon, have (or keep) in view, promise oneself (to), end in view
Related Words: concentrate, fix, focus, attempt, endeavor, essay, strive, try, design, intend, propose, purpose, covet, crave, yearn (for), choose, desire, want, wish, expect, desideratum, idol, urge

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English Thesaurus: aim, goal, target, objective, ambition, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

AIM, the abbreviation for
the Alternative Investment Market; a part of the London Stock Exchange for smaller companies which cannot be listed officially with the Stock Exchange ⇒ compare over-the-counter

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. aim¹ S2 W2 /eɪm/ noun
[Word Family: noun: aim, aimlessness; verb: aim; adverb: aimlessly; adjective: aimless]

1. [countable] something you hope to achieve by doing something
aim of
The aim of the research is to find new food sources.
The main aim of the course is to improve your writing.
with the aim of doing something
a campaign with the aim of helping victims of crime
Teamwork is required in order to achieve these aims.
a policy which sets out the school’s aims and objectives

2. take aim to point a gun or weapon at someone or something you want to shoot
take aim at
Alan took aim at the target.

3. take aim at somebody/something American English to criticize someone or something:
Critics took aim at the President.

4. [uncountable] someone’s ability to hit what they are aiming at when they throw or shoot something:
Val’s aim was very good.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. aim² S2 W2 verb
[Word Family: noun: aim, aimlessness; verb: aim; adverb: aimlessly; adjective: aimless]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: aesmer, from Latin aestimare; ⇒ estimate²]

1. [intransitive] to try or intend to achieve something
aim to do something
We aim to finish by Friday.
(be) aimed at doing something
an initiative aimed at reducing road accidents
aim for
We’re aiming for a big improvement.

2. aim something at somebody to say or do something that is intended for a particular person or group of people:
a program that’s aimed at teenagers
The criticism wasn’t aimed at you.

3.
[intransitive and transitive] to choose the place, person etc that you want to hit or reach and point a weapon or another object towards them:
Denver aimed his gun but did not shoot.
aim at/for
The pilot was aiming for the runway but came down in a nearby field.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

aim
noun
I. purpose/goal
ADJ. broad, general, overall | basic, central, essential, fundamental | chief, first, key, main, major, primary, prime, principal, overriding | sole His sole aim in life is to enjoy himself.
clear, explicit It is important to have a clear aim in view.
ambitious | high, worthy Simple truth must be the highest aim of any real enquiry.
limited, modest | legitimate | common I want to see a strong and united country in which people work together with common aims.
underlying Although the report covers many areas, its underlying aim is to ensure that another accident never happens.
immediate, initial | original | eventual, ultimate His ultimate aim was to force the prime minister to resign.
long-term, short-term | avowed, declared, express/expressed, stated The express aim of the treaty is to keep the whole region free from nuclear weapons.
war | policy/political, strategic
VERB + AIM have | set youself | achieve, fulfil You will have to work hard to achieve your aim.
further, pursue They were intent on furthering their aims. The country is still pursuing its aim of joining the EU.
PREP. with the ~ of She started the organization with the aim of helping local people.
PHRASES aims and objectives What are the aims and objectives of this visit?

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

aim
II. pointing weapon, etc.
ADJ. careful I'll take more careful aim next time.
poor His aim was poor and he missed the target.
VERB + AIM take
PREP. ~ at He took aim at the target and fired.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

aim
verb
I. try/plan to achieve sth
ADV. directly
PREP. at She's aiming at a scholarship this year. The initiative is aimed at helping young people.
for He is aiming for a win in this race.
PHRASES aim high (= to attempt to achieve a lot) a young man who is prepared to aim high

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

aim
II. intend sth for sb
ADV. clearly, directly, squarely | largely, mainly, mostly, primarily, principally | particularly, specifically
PHRASES be aimed at educational courses aimed particularly at older people

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

aim
III. point/direct sth at sb
ADV. directly, straight | deliberately
PREP. at She aimed the gun straight at the intruder.
for Aim for his legs, not his body.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

aim

the main/primary/principal aim
The country’s main aim was to slow inflation.
the ultimate/eventual/long-term aim (=that you hope to achieve in the end)
The ultimate aim is to replace gasoline with non-polluting energy sources.
the immediate/initial/short-term aim (=that you hope to achieve quickly)
The immediate aim is to develop the travel business.
the overall/general/broad aim (=that concerns the main aim rather than all the details)
The overall aim of the project is to encourage young people to stay in higher education.
Guided by the general aim of the project, we aimed to reach a number of key objectives.
a specific aim (=an exact aim)
What are the specific aims of the course?
the underlying aim (=a basic aim, that people sometimes do not notice)
The games all have an underlying aim: survival.
a political aim
We utterly condemn any acts of violence in pursuit of political aims.
a strategic aim (=that is part of a military, political, or business plan)
The broader strategic aims were to safeguard the Dutch East Indies against attack.
an educational aim
the educational aims of the school
sb’s declared/stated aim (=an aim that somebody has stated clearly)
The Department’s declared aim is targeting benefits where they are most needed.
a common aim (=an aim that people, countries etc share)
We know the value of working closely together to pursue our common aims.
have an aim
His trip to Milan, his third in two weeks, had a precise aim.
achieve/fulfil your aim
The Internet bank achieved its aim of attracting 50,000 customers last year.
Once she had decided to go into publishing, she set out to fulfil her aim.
pursue your aims (=try to achieve them over a long period of time)
We worked closely together to pursue our common aims.
further your aims (=help them to progress or be successful)
The group is prepared to use violence to further its political aims.
set out the aims of something
Is there a set of guidelines setting out the aims of study?
a set of aims
The organization has a set of aims which are listed on its website.
aims and objectives (=the things you hope to achieve)
These aims and objectives are set out in chapters two and three.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

aim
I.
verb
BAD: He was aiming a gun against me.
GOOD: He was aiming a gun at me.
BAD: These programmes are aimed to a very wide audience.
GOOD: These programmes are aimed at a very wide audience.

Usage Note:
aim sth at sb/sth : 'Each ball seemed to be aimed at my head.' 'This new dictionary is aimed at intermediate learners of English.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

aim
II.
noun
1.
BAD: Her lifelong aim was to learn to fly.
GOOD: Her lifelong ambition was to learn to fly.

Usage Note:
See note at AMBITION 1 (ambition)

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2.
BAD: I started to learn English with the aim to become a teacher.
GOOD: I started to learn English with the aim of becoming a teacher.

Usage Note:
with the aim of doing sth : 'I originally went out to the Far East with the aim of setting up my own import-export business.'
Compare: 'My aim is to become a teacher.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

aim something you hope to achieve by doing something:
The main aim of the plan was to provide employment for local people.
goal something important that you hope to achieve in the future, even though it may take a long time:
The country can still achieve its goal of reducing poverty by a third.
target a particular amount or total that you want to achieve:
The company is on track to meet its target of increasing profits by 10%.
objective the specific thing that you are trying to achieve – used especially about things that have been officially discussed and agreed upon in business, politics etc:
Their main objective is to halt the flow of drugs.
We met to set the business objectives for the coming year.
ambition something that you very much want to achieve in your future career:
Her ambition was to go to law school and become an attorney.
Earlier this year, he achieved his ambition of competing in the Olympic Games.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

purpose the reason you do something, and the thing you want to achieve when you do it:
What is the purpose of your visit to England?
The plant is used for medicinal purposes.
aim what you want to achieve when you do something:
The main aims of the project are as follows.
Their ultimate aim is to find a cure for cancer.
goal something that you hope to achieve in the future, even though this may take a long time:
It took Mandela over forty years to achieve his goal of a democratic South Africa.
the goal of ending child poverty
objective something that you are working hard to achieve, especially in business or politics:
The bank achieved its objective of increasing its share of the market.
The government’s long-term objective is to cut CO2 emissions by 50%.
the object of something formal the specific purpose of an activity:
The object of the game is to get as many points as possible.
The students will benefit, and that must be the object of the exercise (=the main thing that you are trying to do).
the point the purpose of doing something and the reason why it is right or necessary:
At fourteen, I couldn’t see the point of going to school.
What’s the point in waiting? (=I don’t think it is useful or necessary)
intention the purpose that you have in your mind when you do something:
He kept his real intentions well hidden.
Although we made a lot of money, this wasn’t our original intention.
ends the result that someone is trying to achieve – used especially when you disapprove of what someone is doing:
They are using religion for political ends.
The ends do not justify the means (=you should not use violence, cruelty, dishonest behaviour etc to achieve your aims).

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

aim
eɪm
See: take aim

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

AIM
AOL Instant Messenger

[TahlilGaran] Acronyms and Abbreviations Dictionary ▲