target

play

noun, often attributive tar·get \ ˈtär-gət \

Definition of target

1 a :a mark to shoot at

b :a target marked by shots fired at it

c :something or someone fired at or marked for attack

d :a goal to be achieved

2 a :an object of ridicule or criticism

b :something or someone to be affected by an action or development

3 a :the metallic surface (as of platinum or tungsten) upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted

b :a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons; especially :fluorescent material on which desired visual effects are produced in electronic devices (as in radar)

4 :a small round shield

— off target

:not valid :inaccurate

— on target

:precisely correct or valid especially in interpreting or addressing a problem or vital issue

See target defined for English-language learners

See target defined for kids

Examples of target in a Sentence

Our target amount for the fund-raiser is $2,500.
They set a target date of May 31.
Planes struck at key military targets.
Tourists are often easy targets for thieves.

Recent Examples of target from the Web

Cohn is becoming a target of criticism from conservatives.

— thomas macmillan, Cosmopolitan, "Who Is Gary Cohn? 9 Things You Should Know About the White House Economic Adviser.," 25 Aug. 2017
Sam Geraci (Moeller High School) was to enter his fourth year as UC punter in 2017, but new coach Fickell also explored other options and Smith became the primary target.

— tom groeschen, Cincinnati.com, "Australian joins UC as new punter," 25 Aug. 2017
The justification for nuclear cruise missiles is that in the event of a nuclear war, bombers can launch them toward distant targets without getting too close to enemy air defenses.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "America Is Building a New, Stealthy Nuclear Cruise Missile," 24 Aug. 2017
Ohio (an 8-point Trump margin in 2016) is more promising for Republicans, with Indiana (a 19-point margin) and Missouri (18 points) even more promising, and Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia (20-point-plus margins) really ripe targets.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Note to GOP: Senators From the Party That Doesn’t Control the White House Usually Do Very Well in Midterms," 24 Aug. 2017
Eskoff threw for 945 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior and Herdman figures to be his No. 1 target.

— blake baumgartner, Naperville Sun, "Neuqua's Ryan Wheeler aims to duplicate baseball success in football," 22 Aug. 2017
The group has raised its target interest rate twice this year and has been expected to hike it once more.

— by tom hudson, miamiherald, "Throwing shade on the Fed’s interest rate path," 18 Aug. 2017
Spanish newspaper El Periódico reports the CIA had warned the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, that Barcelona was at risk as a target of jihadists nearly two months ago.

— ryan craggs, CNT, "After Cambrils and Barcelona Terror Attacks, What to Know If You're Traveling to Spain," 18 Aug. 2017
The Sony hack also had such an immediate and profound effect that Mr. Smith likely assumed that the mere threat of a similar attack would make their target more pliable.

— yohana desta, HWD, "HBO Endures Yet Another Hack, but Refuses to Bend the Knee," 17 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of target

Middle English, from Middle French targette, targuete, diminutive of targe light shield, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse targa shield

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

target Synonyms

Synonyms

butt, mark, prey, sitting duck, victim

Related Words

laughingstock, mockery, pilgarlic; lightning rod; fall guy, goat, scapegoat, whipping boy

Near Antonyms

gossip, gossiper, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, troublemaker; defamer, libeler, libelist, traducer; baiter, heckler, needler, ribber, taunter, tease, teaser, tormentor (also tormenter), torturer; derider, insulter, mocker, ridiculer, scoffer, scorner; caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

target

verb

Definition of target

transitive verb

1 :to make a target of

targeted her for promotion

; especially :to set as a goal

2 :to direct or use toward a target

See target defined for English-language learners

Examples of target in a Sentence

drugs that target cancer cells

Recent Examples of target from the Web

Police have said the gunman targeted the victim when firing into a northbound train about 7:45 p.m., though no motive has been disclosed.

— jeremy gorner, chicagotribune.com, "Parolee charged with attempted murder in shooting at Red Line station in Loop," 30 Aug. 2017
Councilwoman April DeFalco said the mayor targeted her, accusing her and other council members of drug use, even directing police officers to look through the trash of her and her mother.

— scott wartman, Cincinnati.com, "Falmouth mayor impeached after three divisive years," 30 Aug. 2017
In early August, the state informed the school board that the district was at risk of a state takeover, because of a 2015 law that targets districts with persistently underperforming schools.

— dana goldstein, New York Times, "School Closings From Harvey Threaten Disruption Across Texas," 29 Aug. 2017
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest to target Afghanistan’s minority Shiites.

— amir shah, The Seattle Times, "At least 20 people killed in mosque attack in Afghan capital," 25 Aug. 2017
Hoffman wasn’t the first to target the financial industry; two years earlier, activists from the Students for a Democratic Society organized a sit-in at Chase Manhattan Bank.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "How the New York Stock Exchange Gave Abbie Hoffman His Start in Guerrilla Theater," 24 Aug. 2017
The agency has cut salaries, travel, and taken other steps to conserve funding, as well as diverting money initially targeted for capital projects to operations.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville waterfront agency votes to charge users to park," 23 Aug. 2017
Unfortunately, college students are often targeted by criminals who take advantage of their financial inexperience.

— by andrew menachem, miamiherald, "Help your college student stay out of financial trouble," 20 Aug. 2017
This year, the festivity is targeting a new crowd — and a new generation.

— natalina lopez, Town & Country, "A Peek Inside This Weekend's Legendary Millennial Pink-Themed Party in the Hamptons," 18 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of target

1837

TARGET Defined for English Language Learners

target

play

noun

Definition of target for English Language Learners

: something that you are trying to do or achieve
: a place, thing, or person at which an attack is aimed
: the person or group that someone is trying to influence, sell something to, etc.

target

verb

Definition of target for English Language Learners

: to aim an attack at someone or something
: to direct an action, message, etc., at someone or something

TARGET Defined for Kids

target

play

noun tar·get \ ˈtär-gət \

Definition of target for Students

1 :a mark or object to shoot at or attack

2 :a person or thing that is talked about, criticized, or laughed at

3 :a goal to be reached Her target is to lose ten pounds by summer.

Medical Dictionary

target

play

noun tar·get \ ˈtär-gət \

medical Definition of target

1 :something to be affected by an action or development; specifically :an organ, part, or tissue that is affected by the action of a hormone

2 a :the metallic surface usually of platinum or tungsten upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted

b :a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons

3 :the thought or object that is to be recognized (as by telepathy) or affected (as by psychokinesis) in a parapsychological experiment

Law Dictionary

target

noun tar·get

legal Definition of target

:the object to be affected or achieved by an action or development; specifically :a company that is the object of a takeover

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See words that rhyme with target Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for target Spanish Central: Translation of target Nglish: Translation of target for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of target for Arabic speakers

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target

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From the M-W Editors

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Origin and Etymology of target

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Synonyms

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Near Antonyms

Other Military Terms

target

Definition of target

Examples of target in a Sentence

Recent Examples of target from the Web

First Known Use of target

Phrases Related to TARGET

Related Phrases

TARGET Defined for English Language Learners

target

Definition of target for English Language Learners

target

Definition of target for English Language Learners

TARGET Defined for Kids

target

Definition of target for Students

Medical Dictionary

target

medical Definition of target

Law Dictionary

target

legal Definition of target

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