target
TAH-giht
Target (noun) means something aimed at, such as a mark used for shooting practice. Example: “Beginners practise on a large target placed close to the line.”
noun
1
Something aimed at, such as a mark used for shooting practice.
"Beginners practise on a large target placed close to the line."
"He hit the bullseye on the target from thirty metres away."
"The archery range set up new paper targets for the competition."
2
A goal or objective that someone is working to achieve.
"Her target for this month is to save a little money each week."
"The sales team hit their quarterly target early."
"Our target is to cut costs by ten percent this year."
3
A person, group, or thing that criticism, attack, or attention is directed at.
"The mayor became the target of jokes in the local newspaper."
"The new policy became a target for public anger."
"She felt like a target after the article named her directly."
verb
1
To aim something, or direct effort or attention, at a particular person or thing.
"The charity targets families who need help with heating bills."
"The campaign targets young voters with social media ads."
"Investigators believe the hackers specifically targeted the bank's servers."
How to use target
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you aim at or aim for — literally (a shooting target) or figuratively (a sales target, a target audience).
Common pairings
hit a target
miss the target
target audience
on target
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like target.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- targets
- Third person singular
- targets
- Past tense
- targeted, targetted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Beginners practise on a large _____ placed close to the line.
Etymology
From Old French targe, meaning a small shield, going back to a Frankish word for the same; the shooting sense grew out of that older "shield" meaning.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “target” mean?
The word “target” means something aimed at, such as a mark used for shooting practice. In plain terms, something you aim at or aim for — literally (a shooting target) or figuratively (a sales target, a target audience).
How do you pronounce “target”?
“Target” is pronounced TAH-giht (/ˈtɑɹ.ɡɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “target” in a sentence?
Here is “target” used in a sentence: “He hit the bullseye on the target from thirty metres away.”
What part of speech is “target”?
Depending on how it is used, “target” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “target” come from?
The word “target” comes from Old French. From Old French targe, meaning a small shield, going back to a Frankish word for the same; the shooting sense grew out of that older "shield" meaning.
Is “target” a common word?
“Target” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “target” have?
“Target” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something aimed at, such as a mark used for shooting practice.
What is the difference between a target and a goal?
The words overlap, but a target is usually specific and measurable — a precise figure or mark to hit, like a sales target of £50,000. A goal is broader, describing the overall outcome you want to achieve. Targets are often the concrete milestones you set on the way to a larger goal.
What are the types of targets?
Target has several everyday uses. In sport there are physical targets like archery bullseyes and shooting marks. In business, sales and performance targets set measurable goals. In marketing, a target audience is the group a product aims to reach. Each shares the idea of something deliberately aimed at.
What is an example of a target?
A classic example is the round, ringed board used in archery or darts, where the centre bullseye scores highest. Other examples include a runner's target time, a charity's fundraising target, or the target market for a new phone. All are things aimed at or worked toward.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include target:
