- 1a result that you try to achieve business goals and targets sales targets Set yourself targets that you can reasonably hope to achieve. to meet/achieve a target a target date of April 2012 The university will reach its target of 5,000 students next September. The new sports complex is on target to open in June. a target area/audience/group (= the particular area, audience, etc. that a product, program, etc. is aimed at) Topic CollocationsBusinessrunning a business
- buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise
- set up/establish/start/start up/launch a business/company
- run/operate a business/company/franchise
- head/run a firm/department/team
- make/secure/win/lose/block a deal
- expand/grow/build the business
- boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade
- increase/expand production/output/sales
- boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability
- achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability
- cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices
- announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacks
- break into/enter/capture/dominate a market
- capture/gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share
- identify/find/build/create a market for something
- start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign
- develop/launch/promote a product/Web site
- estimate/assess/create/generate demand for your product
- attract/get/retain/keep/help customers/clients
- drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales
- beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform/ (informal) stymie the competition
- meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets
- draw up/set/present/propose/agree on/approve a budget
- keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget
- be/come in below/under/over/within budget
- generate income/revenue/profit(s)/funds/business
- fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit
- provide/raise/allocate capital/funds
- attract/encourage investment/investors
- recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment/an outlay
- get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan
- apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide financing
- lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue
- accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts
- suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses
- face cuts/a deficit/bankruptcy/a shortfall
- declare/file for/enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy
- liquidate a company/a business/assets
- survive/weather a recession/downturn
- propose/seek/block/oppose a merger
- launch/make/accept/contest/defeat a takeover bid
Definitions on the go
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- 2an object, a person, or a place that people aim at when attacking They bombed military and civilian targets. target for somebody/something Doors and windows are an easy target for burglars. It's a prime target (= an obvious target) for terrorist attacks. The children became the target for their father's aggressive outbursts. target of something (figurative) He's become the target of a lot of criticism recently.
- 3an object that people practice shooting at, especially a round board with circles on it to aim at a target to hit/miss the target target practice Thesaurustarget
- objective
- goal
- object
- end
- target a result that you try to achieve:Set targets that you can reasonably hope to achieve. sales targets
- objective (somewhat formal) something that you are trying to achieve:What are the objectives of this project?
- goal something that you hope to achieve:He continued to pursue his goal of becoming an actor.
- A target is usually officially recorded in some way, for example by an employer. It is often specific, and in the form of figures, such as number of sales, exam scores, or a date. People often set their own objectives: these are things that they wish to achieve, often as part of a project or a talk they are giving. Goals are often long-term, and relate to people's life and career plans or the long-term plans of a company or organization.
- object the purpose of something; something that you plan to achieve:The object of the campaign is to educate people about highway safety.
- end something that you plan to achieve:She used her family for political ends. That's only OK if you believe that the end justifies the means (= bad methods of doing something are acceptable if the final result is good). End is usually used in the plural or in particular fixed expressions.
- to work toward a(n) target/objective/goal
- a(n) ambitious/major/long-term/short-term/future target/objective/goal
- economic/financial/business targets/objectives/goals
- to set/agree on/identify/reach/meet/exceed a(n) target/objective/goal
- to achieve a(n) target/objective/goal/end
Check pronunciation: target