aimed; aiming; aims
1
: to direct a course
specifically
: to point a weapon at an object
Aim carefully before shooting.
1
a
: point
aim a gun
b
: to direct toward a specified object or goal
a story aimed at children
2
obsolete
: guess, conjecture
plural aims
1
a
: 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
see also take aim at
American Indian Movement
Synonyms
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
Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
The Driving Force Institute, one of the largest producers of educational history films in the US, aims to solve the nationwide deficit of history knowledge with immersive and digestible short films created to enhance schooling systems and teaching methods.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
In addition to the arena, Meruelo aims to build an entertainment district in north Phoenix.
—Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 21 Apr. 2024
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. aims to vote on a measure in coming weeks, according to people with knowledge of the initiative, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations.
—Lydia Beyoud, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024
Through this experience, the Ford team aims to create an empowering space where women can immerse themselves in adventure, skill-building, and the sheer thrill of off-roading while celebrating their love for exploration and the outdoors.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Apr. 2024
The theme aims to raise awareness of plastic pollution, reduce single-use plastic consumption, demand an end to fast-fashion, invest in technologies that can reduce plastic use and demand a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2024.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 20 Apr. 2024
That law aims to improve safety by increasing visibility for drivers, pedestrians and others in crosswalks and intersections — a practice known as daylighting.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
The Davenport, which opened a few weeks ago at 401 N. Sixth St., doesn’t aim to replicate that aesthetic.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2024
Where to donate solar eclipse glasses If the owner of a pair of solar eclipse glasses is not planning on globe-trotting to catch a glimpse of the upcoming solar eclipses, there are several organizations collecting viewers with the aim of donating to those who will be on the path of upcoming events.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The leaders of the United States and Japan this week will commit to modernizing their military alliance, with the aim of eventually creating a truly operational hub for the most consequential defense partnership in the Pacific.
—Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The aim of such a dialogue should be to prevent the country from further violent fragmentation.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The aim of a ketogenic diet is to stimulate this process in order to promote fat burning and facilitate weight loss.
—Robert James and, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
And while the aim is never to get that figure to zero, experts are increasingly worried by a specific data point: the nation’s debt to GDP ratio.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
The aim is not to become an expert on everything but to have a basic knowledge of many things.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
The larger aim is to challenge the bedrock constitutional principle that the federal government, not the states, has the sole authority to enforce national immigration laws.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
Verb
Then Gentry aims and shoots Cubbie with an arrow, fatally wounding the bear.
—Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
The Driving Force Institute, one of the largest producers of educational history films in the US, aims to solve the nationwide deficit of history knowledge with immersive and digestible short films created to enhance schooling systems and teaching methods.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
In addition to the arena, Meruelo aims to build an entertainment district in north Phoenix.
—Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 21 Apr. 2024
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. aims to vote on a measure in coming weeks, according to people with knowledge of the initiative, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations.
—Lydia Beyoud, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024
Through this experience, the Ford team aims to create an empowering space where women can immerse themselves in adventure, skill-building, and the sheer thrill of off-roading while celebrating their love for exploration and the outdoors.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Apr. 2024
The theme aims to raise awareness of plastic pollution, reduce single-use plastic consumption, demand an end to fast-fashion, invest in technologies that can reduce plastic use and demand a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2024.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 20 Apr. 2024
That law aims to improve safety by increasing visibility for drivers, pedestrians and others in crosswalks and intersections — a practice known as daylighting.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
The Davenport, which opened a few weeks ago at 401 N. Sixth St., doesn’t aim to replicate that aesthetic.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
Noun
The aim, the agency says, is to move the separate spacecraft to some 144 meters apart, with the Occulter, as a disc, blocking out the sun.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2024
Where to donate solar eclipse glasses If the owner of a pair of solar eclipse glasses is not planning on globe-trotting to catch a glimpse of the upcoming solar eclipses, there are several organizations collecting viewers with the aim of donating to those who will be on the path of upcoming events.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The leaders of the United States and Japan this week will commit to modernizing their military alliance, with the aim of eventually creating a truly operational hub for the most consequential defense partnership in the Pacific.
—Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The aim of such a dialogue should be to prevent the country from further violent fragmentation.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The aim of a ketogenic diet is to stimulate this process in order to promote fat burning and facilitate weight loss.
—Robert James and, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
And while the aim is never to get that figure to zero, experts are increasingly worried by a specific data point: the nation’s debt to GDP ratio.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
The aim is not to become an expert on everything but to have a basic knowledge of many things.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
The larger aim is to challenge the bedrock constitutional principle that the federal government, not the states, has the sole authority to enforce national immigration laws.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near aim
Cite this Entry
“Aim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aim. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aim
2 of 2 noun1
: the directing of a weapon or a missile at a mark
2
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