aim

{{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}}

noun

1 purpose/goal

ADJECTIVE

▪ broad, general, overall

▪ basic, central, fundamental

▪ chief, first, key, main, major, overriding, primary, prime (BrE), principal

▪ sole

▪

His sole aim in life is to enjoy himself.

▪ clear, explicit, specific

▪

It is important to have a clear aim in view.

▪ ambitious

▪ high, noble, worthy (esp. BrE)

▪

Simple truth must be the highest aim of any real investigation.

▪ limited, modest

▪ legitimate

▪ common

▪

I want to see a strong and united country in which people work together with common aims.

▪ immediate, initial

▪ original

▪ eventual, ultimate

▪

His ultimate aim was to force the chairman to resign.

▪ long-term, short-term

▪ avowed, declared, express, expressed, stated

▪

The express aim of the treaty is to keep the whole region free from nuclear weapons.

▪ war

▪ policy, political, strategic

VERB + AIM

▪ have

▪ set (yourself)

▪ accomplish, achieve, fulfil/fulfill

▪

You will have to work hard to achieve your aim.

▪ further, pursue

▪

They were intent on furthering their aims.

▪

The country is still pursuing its aim of joining the EU.

PREPOSITION

▪ with the aim of

▪

She started the organization with the aim of helping local people.

PHRASES

▪ aims and objectives

▪

What are the aims and objectives of this visit?

2 pointing weapon, etc.

ADJECTIVE

▪ careful, direct, steady

▪

I'll take more careful aim next time.

▪ poor

▪

His aim was poor and he missed the target.

VERB + AIM

▪ take

▪ adjust

PREPOSITION

▪ aim at

▪

He took aim at the target and fired.

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verb

1 try/plan to achieve sth

PREPOSITION

▪ at

▪

She's aiming at a scholarship this year.

▪ for

▪

He is aiming for a win in this race.

PHRASES

▪ aim high (= to attempt to achieve a lot)

▪

a young man who is prepared to aim high

2 intend sth for sb

ADVERB

▪ clearly, directly, squarely

▪ deliberately

▪ largely, mainly, mostly, primarily, principally

▪ particularly, specifically

▪ solely

PHRASES

▪ be aimed at

▪

educational courses aimed particularly at older people

3 point/direct sth at sb

ADVERB

▪ directly, straight

▪ carefully, deliberately

PREPOSITION

▪ at

▪

She aimed the gun straight at the intruder.

▪ for

▪

Aim for his legs, not his body.

Aim is used with these nouns as the object: ↑arrow, ↑blow, ↑bow, ↑camera, ↑cannon, ↑gun, ↑kick, ↑laser, ↑missile, ↑pistol, ↑revolver, ↑rifle, ↑shot, ↑shotgun, ↑weapon