aim

¹

[ eym ]

verb (used with object)

1. to position or direct (a firearm, ball, arrow, rocket, etc.) so that, on firing or release, the discharged projectile will hit a target or travel along a certain path.

   Synonyms: point

2. to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose:

   to aim a satire at snobbery.

verb (used without object)

1. to point or direct a gun, punch, etc., toward:

   He aimed at the target but missed it.

2. to strive; try (usually followed by to or at ):

   We aim to please.

   They aim at saving something every month.

3. to intend:

   She aims to go tomorrow.

4. to direct efforts, as toward an object:

   The satire aimed at modern greed.

5. Obsolete. to estimate; guess.

noun

1. the act of aiming or directing anything at or toward a particular point or target.
2. the direction in which a weapon or missile is pointed; the line of sighting:

   within the cannon's aim.

3. the point intended to be hit; thing or person aimed at:

   to miss one's aim.

   Synonyms: objective, target

4. something intended or desired to be attained by one's efforts; purpose:

   whatever his aim in life may be.

   Synonyms: design, intent, goal

5. Obsolete. conjecture; guess.

AIM

²

[ eym ]

noun

1. American Indian Movement.

AIM

¹

abbreviation for

1. (in Britain) Alternative Investment Market

aim

²

/ eɪm /

verb

1. to point (a weapon, missile, etc) or direct (a blow) at a particular person or object; level
2. tr to direct (satire, criticism, etc) at a person, object, etc
3. intr; foll by at or an infinitive to propose or intend

   we aim to leave early

4. intr; often foll by at or for to direct one's efforts or strive (towards)

   to aim at better communications

   to aim high

noun

1. the action of directing something at an object
2. the direction in which something is pointed; line of sighting (esp in the phrase to take aim )
3. the object at which something is aimed; target
4. intention; purpose

Other Words From

• aimer noun
• aimful adjective
• aimful·ly adverb
• mis·aim verb noun
• un·aimed adjective
• un·aiming adjective
• under·aim noun
• under·aim verb
• well-aimed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aim¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; late Middle English aimen, from Anglo-French a(e)smer, eimer, from Old French aesmer, from Vulgar Latin adaestimāre (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin ad- ad- ( def ) + aestimāre ( estimate ( def ) ); replacing Middle English amen, from Old French (dialectal) amer, from Latin aestimāre

Word History and Origins

Origin of aim¹

C14: via Old French aesmer from Latin aestimāre to estimate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take aim, to sight a target:

   to take aim and fire.

More idioms and phrases containing aim

In addition to the idiom beginning with aim , also see take aim .

Synonym Study

Aim, end, object all imply something that is the goal of one's efforts. Aim implies that toward which one makes a direct line, refusing to be diverted from it: a nobleness of aim; one's aim in life. End emphasizes the goal as a cause of efforts: the end for which one strives. Object emphasizes the goal as that toward which all efforts are directed: the object of years of study.

Example Sentences

But increasingly in Los Angeles, those three letters have been aimed at James’ teammates.

From Los Angeles Times

He also supported the aim of getting more knives off the streets.

From BBC

The L.A. sanctuary city law, which was proposed in early 2023 — long before Trump’s election — aims to build a firewall between federal immigration enforcement and city agencies.

From Los Angeles Times

"Our team started spiking a range of carefully selected small molecules to the plasma with the aim of minimizing the interactions of highly abundant proteins with nanoparticles," Mahmoudi said.

From Science Daily

In his pre-tournament news conference on Monday, Nadal insisted he would not be distracted by emotion as he aimed to help Spain win the Davis Cup for a sixth time in his career.

From BBC

Related Words

• address
• design
• direct
• focus
• intend
• mean
• plan
• propose
• target
• try
• want