aim

aim — noun

1. something you hope to reach or accomplish through your efforts — for example, ge

1.nounB1
Definition

something you hope to reach or accomplish through your efforts — for example, getting a promotion at work, learning to swim, or finishing a marathon.

Example

Uri's main aim this year is to save enough money for a trip to Japan.

[possessive] aim is to + verb

The charity was set up with the aim of helping children in rural villages read.

with the aim of + -ing

Common collocations
  • main aim
  • long-term aim
  • achieve an aim
  • set an aim
  • with the aim of
Synonyms
  • goal

    very close synonym; slightly more common in everyday speech

  • objective

    more formal; common in business and policy writing

  • purpose

    broader — the reason behind an action rather than a specific target

  • ambition

    stronger; suggests a long-term, strongly-desired aim

Grammar Patterns

with the aim of + -ing

the aim of [doing something]

Usage Note

Often paired with possessive determiners (my/her/our/the company's) or set phrases like 'with the aim of'. Distinguish from sense 2 (POINTING): this sense is always abstract — a plan or hope, never a physical direction.

Common Mistakes

My aim is becoming a doctor.
My aim is to become a doctor.
after 'aim is', use a to-infinitive, not -ing.
She has an aim for finishing her novel by June.
She has the aim of finishing her novel by June.
the fixed pattern is 'aim of + -ing', not 'aim for + -ing'.

2. the skill of pointing a gun, arrow, or thrown object so that it hits what you wa

2.nounB2
Definition

the skill of pointing a gun, arrow, or thrown object so that it hits what you want it to hit.

Example

The young archer steadied her bow and took careful aim at the wooden target.

take aim at + [target]

Captain Reed's aim was so good that he could hit a coin from thirty metres away.

[possessive] aim was good/bad

Common collocations
  • take aim
  • good aim
  • steady aim
  • aim is off
Synonyms
  • marksmanship

    more formal and technical; specifically about shooting accuracy

  • accuracy

    broader; works for any precise action, not only weapons

Grammar Patterns

take aim (at)

have good/bad aim

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense: say 'good aim', not 'a good aim'. Frequently appears in 'take aim (at)' and 'have good/bad aim'. Distinct from sense 1: this is a physical skill or act, never a hope or plan.

Common Mistakes

She has a good aim with a bow.
She has good aim with a bow.
in this sense, 'aim' is uncountable, so no 'a'.
Idioms

take aim at

idiom

to publicly criticise or attack a person, group, or idea in your speech or writing.

In her column, the journalist took aim at politicians who ignore climate science.

The new comedy show takes aim at fast fashion and the waste it creates.

aim — verb

Word family

  • aimless
    adjectiveC1
  • aimlessly
    adverbC1
  • aimlessness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words name something you hope to reach, but they sit at different levels of formality and specificity. 'Aim' and 'goal' are everyday choices and often interchangeable: 'my aim/goal is to learn Spanish'. 'Goal' tends to feel a touch more concrete and measurable, which is why sports and business lean on it. 'Objective' is the most formal; it suits reports, policy documents, and management talk ('our quarterly objectives'). 'Purpose' is broader — it answers 'why?' rather than 'what?', so 'the purpose of the meeting' explains the reason for it, while 'the aim of the meeting' names the result it should produce. 'Ambition' adds emotional weight: it is a long-term, deeply wanted aim, often about your whole life or career, as in 'her ambition is to become a surgeon'.

aim ↗goal ↗objective ↗purpose ↗ambition ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • aim of the project
  • aim of the study
  • aim of the campaign

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with the aim of
  • achieve an aim
  • set an aim
  • fall short of an aim
  • take aim at

Prepositions

  • aim at
  • aim for
  • aim to

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

Aim came into English in the 14th century from Old French 'esmer' (to estimate or calculate) and 'aesmer' (to aim at), both built on Latin 'aestimare' (to value or judge). The earliest English uses meant 'to estimate' or 'to guess', and from the idea of carefully working out where something would land grew the modern senses: pointing a weapon at a target, and, by extension, setting a plan or goal you want to reach.