Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To direct (a weapon) toward an intended target.
- v. To direct toward or intend for a particular goal or group: The publicity campaign was aimed at improving the eating habits of children.
- v. To direct a weapon: a gunner aiming carefully.
- v. To determine a course or direct an effort: aim for a better education.
- v. To propose to do something; intend: The historical society is aiming to restore the town hall.
- n. The act of aiming.
- n. Skill at hitting a target: The shooter's aim was perfect.
- n. The line of fire of an aimed weapon.
- n. The degree of accuracy of a weapon.
- n. A purpose or intention toward which one's efforts are directed.
- n. Obsolete A target; a mark.
- n. Obsolete A conjecture; a guess.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To esteem; consider. To estimate; guess; conjecture. Wyclif. To calculate; devise; intend.
- To direct or point at something; level: as, to aim the fist or a blow; to aim a satire or a reflection at some person or vice.
- To give a certain direction and elevation to (a gun, cannon, arrow, etc.), for the purpose of causing the projectile, when the weapon is discharged, to hit the object intended to be struck: as, to aim a gun.
- To estimate; guess; conjecture.
- To direct one's intention, purpose, or action, as to the attainment or accomplishment of something; intend; endeavor: as, a man aims at distinction; aim to be just in all you do.
- To direct or point anything, as a weapon or missile, toward an object.
- n. Conjecture; guess.
- n. Course; direction: in particular, the direction in which a missile is pointed; the line of shot.
- n. The act of aiming or directing anything (as a weapon, a blow, a discourse, or a remark) at or toward a particular point or object with the intention of striking or affecting it; the pointing or directing of a missile.
- n. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be affected; the mark or target.
- n. A purpose; intention; design; scheme: as, men are often disappointed of their aim.
Wiktionary
- n. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
- n. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
- n. Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
- v. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.
- v. To direct the intention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;—followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.
- v. To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow (at something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at some person or vice).
- AIM; AOL Instant Messenger.
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it.
- v. To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by
at , or by an infinitive - v. To guess or conjecture.
- v. To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object
- n. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
- n. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
- n. Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
- n. Conjecture; guess.
WordNet 3.0
- v. specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public
- n. the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)
- n. the action of directing something at an object
- v. move into a desired direction of discourse
- v. point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
- v. propose or intend
- v. have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
- n. an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
- n. the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
- v. direct (a remark) toward an intended goal
- v. intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
Etymologies
- Middle English aimen, from Old French esmer, to estimate (from Latin aestimāre) and from Old French aesmer (from Vulgar Latin *ad estimāre : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin aestimāre, to estimate).
Examples
“Without the power to do anything, sensitivity becomes our main aim, the aim is not so much to do anything, as to be judged.”
“But I'm not sure I'd recommend it for someone whose main aim is to get from point A to point B with most of their limbs intact.”
“The library's main aim is to educate and inspire disenfranchised children who have seen arts education cut from their school curricula, said library and foundation president Valerie Ervin.”
The Huffington Post: Ray Charles Memorial Library Open In L.A.
“The judge decided that the Hungarian Guard's main aim is to spread fear among Gypsies.”
Global Voices in English » Hungary: The Hungarian Guard Banned
“I have seen war up close and personal, when 1 side will not talk and whose main aim is to destroy the other sides country then the side who has been attacked for many months without a military response IMHO has every right to defend itself.”
“The other main aim is to look how we can increase the use of the system by citizens.”
“You could have the ‘generally lazy but remarkably unhelpful’ instead of the ‘bored but capable’ as one of the essential non police staff whose main aim is to reinforce all the urgent and important things from the world where messages ‘really’ matter and the foundations of empire building are well on the way to approval by the forces that do stuff.”
“One main aim is to discover the elusive Higgs Boson, the so-called "God Particle," which will, presumably, unfold the secrets of the universe and allow us to know the "mind of God" as some hyper-enthusiastic scientists aver.”
“Given Britain's main aim is to get our people out in one piece declaring war would be rather counter-productive.”
“I am being a jerk cause the Arts Society of Ulster's 'main aim is to promote and encourage interest in the fine and applied arts in Northern Ireland', (quote from their catalogue).”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘aim’.
-
movement (fast)
words describing fast action or movement
( randomness, descriptive )hurry, run, scamper, skip, stride, stampede, trample, scramble, dart, spring, spin, sprint and 140 more...
-
((Eye)) CBS = I See B.S.
Input limited to 30 seconds, so we needed to find cost-effective ways to become a part of your life. Uninvited houseguest technology: the link technique, thoughts as real estate. The full potential...
joy, dodge, ram, monster, coke, snuggle, gateway, ivory, life, subway, crunch, crest and 151 more...
-
3 Letter Words
A list of English words that are three letters long.
ace, act, ade, ado, add, ads, age, ago, ail, air, aim, all and 397 more...
-
The Enterprise
enterprise, gameplan, goal, gimmick, intendment of int..., lay of the land, machination, notions, object, objectives, pitch, picture and 54 more...
-
a beginners' list
a beginner's list should be about novices and all those that start on new journeys
noob, beginner, new, left foot, threshold, dawn, start, go, adventurer, undeterred, brave, foolish and 61 more...

bilby "The Spaniards have been reduced to aiming aimless balls into the box."
- football manager Ron Atkinson. Sep 10, 2009
gangerh "And do you miss your wife?"
"Yes, but my aim's improving."
From 'Lost' by Michael Robotham. Jan 22, 2009