- 1[countable] the purpose of doing something; what someone is trying to achieve the aims of the lesson She went to Atlanta with the aim of finding a job. Our main aim is to increase sales in the Northwest. Bob's one aim in life is to earn a lot of money. Teamwork is required in order to achieve these aims. She set out the company's aims and objectives in her speech. Thesauruspurpose
- aim
- intention
- plan
- point
- idea
- purpose what something is supposed to achieve; what someone is trying to achieve:The purpose of the visit was to see the campus in person.
- aim what someone is trying to achieve; what something is supposed to achieve:Our main aim is to increase sales in the Northwest.
- Your purpose for doing something is your reason for doing it; your aim is what you want to achieve. Aim can suggest that you are only trying to achieve something;purpose gives a stronger sense of achievement being certain. Aim can be someone's aim or the aim of something. Purpose is more usually the purpose of something; you can talk about someone's purpose but that is more formal.
- intention what you intend to do:I have no intention of going to the wedding. She's full of good intentions but things rarely work out for her.
- plan what you intend to do or achieve:There are no plans to build new offices.
- Your intentions are what you want to do, especially in the near future; your plans are what you have decided or arranged to do, often, but not always, in the longer term.
- point (somewhat informal) the purpose or aim of something:What's the point of all this violence? The point of the lesson is to compare the two countries.
- idea (somewhat informal) the purpose of something; someone's aim:The whole idea of going was so that we could meet her new boyfriend. What's the idea behind this assignment?
- Point is a more negative word than idea. If you say What's the point…? you are suggesting that there is no point; if you say What's the idea…? you are genuinely asking a question. Point, but not idea, is used to talk about things you feel annoyed or unhappy about:There's no idea in… I don't see the idea of….
- with the aim/intention/idea >of>doing something
- somebody's intention/plan to do something
- to have a(n) purpose/aim/intention/plan/point
- to achieve a(n) purpose/aim
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- 2[uncountable] the action or skill of pointing a weapon at someone or something Her aim was good and she hit the bullseye with her first shot. The gunman took aim (= pointed his weapon) and fired. Idioms
to direct your criticism at someone or something
Check pronunciation: aim