aim

verb

\ ˈām

aimed; aiming; aims

Definition of aim

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

1a : point aim a gun

b : to direct toward a specified object or goal a story aimed at children

2 obsolete : guess, conjecture

aim

noun

Definition of aim (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : 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

a : conjecture, guess

b : the directing of effort toward a goal

4 obsolete : mark, target

AIM

abbreviation

Definition of AIM (Entry 3 of 3)

American Indian Movement

Other Words from aim Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about aim

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Other Words from aim

Noun

aimless \ ām-ləs

\ adjective

aimless wandering an aimless youth

aimlessly adverb

aimlessness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for aim

Noun

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 new clothing drop, which has its own Go Fund Me page, specifically aims to raise funds to build an additional wing at the Border Angels shelter in Tijuana. — Vogue, "A New Fashion Collaboration Is Pushing for Positive Change at the U.S.-Mexico Border," 22 Mar. 2019 The latest entrant on the scene, Mockingbird, aims to help new parents. — Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, "Mockingbird Is a New Direct-to-Consumer Brand for Strollers, and We're Obsessed," 18 Mar. 2019 The project aimed to overhaul Finland’s regional government, health and social services to bring down costs and safeguard the system amid an aging population. ... — Dominic Chopping, WSJ, "Finland’s Government Collapses Weeks Before General Election," 8 Mar. 2019 The Convention on Cluster Munitions, signed by 120 countries, aims to eventually ban their stockpiling and use. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Army Is Using Robots to Dismantle Hazardous Rockets," 26 Feb. 2019 The agreement aims to create credit mechanisms, crowd funding and sharing of technology to promote solar energy in 121 countries associated with the treaty. — Ashok Sharma, The Seattle Times, "Saudi crown prince backs India’s fight against terrorism," 20 Feb. 2019 This form of therapy aims to help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to live healthier, happier lives. — Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, "How to Know If Your Abdominal Pain Is Physical or Mental," 16 Feb. 2019 The show aims to turn romantic comedy tropes on their heads, reminding viewers at every turn that Joe's relationship with Guinevere Beck is anything but healthy. — Claire Dodson, Teen Vogue, "Penn Badgley Reminds Fans His "You" Character Joe Goldberg Is the Worst," 9 Jan. 2019 In other words, Russia deliberately aimed to sow and exploit racial divisions in the United States. — Alex Ward, Vox, "4 main takeaways from new reports on Russia’s 2016 election interference," 17 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The aim is to boost lackluster online fundraising, according to a person familiar with the campaign. — Reid J. Epstein, WSJ, "Elizabeth Warren Passes on Big-Ticket Fundraisers in Primary Campaign," 25 Feb. 2019 The aim is to create gatherings that give artists in their circle ways to make a political impact. — Rob Haskell, Vogue, "How America Ferrera Is Inspiring Celebrities to Get Political," 11 Feb. 2019 But to all the MAGA eggs currently opening Twitter to take aim at me, consider, too, that opposition to the State of the Union is not Trump-specific, or even new. — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, "America Doesn't Need the State of the Union Address Anymore—Especially Not From Trump," 5 Feb. 2019 But if it is handled clumsily, the situation could develop in a direction that sees northern Mozambique become a zone for launching assaults and furthering the aims of criminal networks across the region. — Christopher Torchia, The Seattle Times, "Opaque insurgency grinds on in gas-rich Mozambican region," 8 Jan. 2019 In the transcript, the company’s search chief Ben Gomes discussed an aim to roll out the service between January and April 2019. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "How Congress missed another chance to hold big tech accountable," 12 Dec. 2018 The Facebook patents demonstrate a far more specific intent to track, with fairly explicit aims. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, Vox, "Advertisers can easily track you, your kid, your doctor, and the president," 11 Dec. 2018 Get regular exercise and aim for 10,000 steps a day. — Stacey Colino, Woman's Day, "If You Experienced Pregnancy Complications, Your Heart May Be at Risk," 4 Dec. 2018 These speakers from Divoom aim to change that, with a hefty dose of nostalgia and color. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "This Bluetooth Speaker Looks Just Like A Tiny Retro TV," 30 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aim.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.