aim

Meaning

Noun

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.
2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
3. Intention or goal.
4. The ability of someone to aim straight; one’s faculty for being able to hit a physical target.
5. (obsolete) Conjecture; guess.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To point or direct a missile, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it
2. (intransitive) 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
3. (transitive) 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
4. (transitive) To direct (something verbal) towards a certain person, thing, or group
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To guess or conjecture.

Synonyms

purpose

goal

objective

target

intention

object

intend

direct

intent

point

plan

end

🔚

aspire

strive

mark

design

mean

aim at

motive

propose

take aim

purport

point at

sight

wish

butt

train

🚋

direction

desire

level

try

destination

orient

drive

long

idea

💡

have in mind

sake

🍶

address

take

place

crave

meaning

determine

focus

expect

endeavour

get

calculate

object to

Translations

Ziel

but

viser

objetivo

zielen

scopo

apuntar

Absicht

dessein

doel

Zweck

objectif

fine

apontar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/eɪm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: amen

Inherited from Middle English: ame

In summary

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.
The noun is from Middle English ame, from Old French aesme, esme.