Aim

Pronunciation

• IPA: /eɪm/
• Rhymes: -eɪm

From Middle English amen, aimen, eimen (""), Old French esmer, asmer, from Medieval Latin adaestimare, from Latin aestimare (""); or perhaps from Old French aesmer, from Latin ad- + esmer.

Full definition of aim

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, 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; purpose; design; scheme.My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings and kids happy.
4. (obsolete) Conjecture; guess.
• ShakespeareWhat you would work me to, I have some aim.

Synonyms

• (intention) aspiration, design, end, ettle, intention, object, purpose, scheme, scope, tendency

Verb

1. (intransitive) 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.
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; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 1, 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.
• 2013-06-22, Snakes and ladders, Risk is everywhere....For each one there is a frighteningly precise measurement of just how likely it is to jump from the shadows and get you. “The Norm Chronicles”...aims to help data-phobes find their way through this blizzard of risks.
3. (transitive) 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).
4. (obsolete) To guess or conjecture.

Usage notes

Sense 3. This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See

Derived terms

• aim at
• ready, aim, fire!

{{initialism-old|en}}

1. AIM; AOL Instant Messenger.

Anagrams

• AMI, IAM, I'ma, Ima, MAI, Mai, MIA, Mia, mia