aim
Forms
- Plural
- aims
- present (v1)
- aim
- past (v2)
- aimed
- past participle (v3)
- aimed
- present participle
- aiming
- 3rd person singular
- aims
Definitions
1.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, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
- Take time with the aim of your gun.
2.The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
3.Intention or goal.
- My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings, and kids happy.
4.The ability of someone to aim straight; one’s faculty for being able to hit a physical target.
- He has a bad aim, so he decided to join archery classes.
- The police officer has excellent aim, always hitting the bullseye in shooting practice.
1.To point or direct a missile, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it
- He aimed at the target, but the arrow flew straight over it.
2.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
- The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed.
3.To direct or point (e.g. a weapon), at a particular object; to direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an object
- She aimed a punch at her ex-boyfriend.
- He aimed the gun at him and he held his hands up in surrender.
4.To direct (something verbal) towards a certain person, thing, or group
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2122
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
The verb is from Middle English amen, aimen, eimen (“to guess at, to estimate, to aim”), borrowed from Old French esmer, aesmer, asmer, from Latin ad- plus aestimare (“to estimate”), the compound perhaps being originally formed in Medieval Latin (adaestimare), perhaps in Old French.