Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense targets, present participle targeting, present participle targetting, past tense, past participle targeted, past tense, past participle targetted
1. countable noun
A target is something at which someone is aiming a weapon or other object.
The village lies beside a main road, making it an easy target for bandits.
The missiles missed their target.
He missed the target only once yesterday.
We threw knives at targets.
Synonyms: mark, goal, bull's-eye More Synonyms of target
2. countable noun
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve.
He's won back his place too late to achieve his target of 20 goals this season. [+ of]
...school leavers who failed to reach their target grades.
Synonyms: goal, aim, objective, end More Synonyms of target
3. verb
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
They targeted her as vulnerable in her bid for reelection. [VERB noun]
He targets the economy as the root cause of the deteriorating law and order situation. [VERB noun]
Target is also a noun.
In the past, they have been the target of racist abuse. [+ of]
The professor has been a frequent target for animal rights extremists.
[Also + for]
4. verb
If you target a particular group of people, you try to appeal to those people or affect them.
The campaign will target insurance companies. [VERB noun]
The company has targeted adults as its primary customers. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: choose, select, single out, earmark More Synonyms of target
Target is also a noun.
Students are a prime target group for marketing strategies.
5.
See on target
More Synonyms of target
target in British English
(ˈtɑːɡɪt)
noun
1.
a.
an object or area at which an archer or marksman aims, usually a round flat surface marked with concentric rings
b.
(as modifier)
target practice
2.
a.
any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid
b.
(as modifier)
target area
target company
3.
a fixed goal or objective
the target for the appeal is £10 000
4.
a person or thing at which an action or remark is directed or the object of a person's feelings
a target for the teacher's sarcasm
5.
a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck
6. surveying
a marker on which sights are taken, such as the sliding marker on a levelling staff
7.
(formerly) a small round shield
8. physics, electronics
a.
a substance, object, or system subjected to bombardment by electrons or other particles, or to irradiation
b.
an electrode in a television camera tube whose surface, on which image information is stored, is scanned by the electron beam
9. electronics
an object to be detected by the reflection of a radar or sonar signal, etc
10. on target
verbWord forms: -gets, -geting or -geted(transitive)
11.
to make a target of
12.
to direct or aim
to target benefits at those most in need
Derived forms
targetless (ˈtargetless)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French targette a little shield, from Old French targe
target in American English
(ˈtɑrgɪt)
noun
1. Obsolete
a small shield, esp. a round one
2.
a.
a round, flat board, straw coil, etc., often one marked with concentric circles, set up to be aimed at, as in archery or rifle practice
b.
any object that is shot at, thrown at, etc.
3.
an objective; goal
4.
someone or something that is the focus of attention, interest, etc.
5.
a ship, building, site, etc. that is the object of a military attack
6.
an object of verbal attack, criticism, or ridicule
7.
something resembling a target in shape or use
; specif.,
a. US
the sliding sight on a surveyor's leveling rod
b. US
a disk-shaped signal on a railroad switch
c.
a metallic insert, usually of tungsten or molybdenum, in the anode of an X-ray tube, upon which the stream of cathode rays impinges and from which X-rays emanate
d.
a surface, object, etc. subjected to irradiation or to bombardment as by nuclear particles
verb transitive
8.
to establish as a target, goal, etc.
Idioms:
on target
Word origin
ME < MFr targette, dim. of targe, a shield < Frank *targa, akin to targe
More idioms containing
target
be shooting for the same target
COBUILD Collocations
target
become a target
bomb a target
challenging target
chase targets
deficit target
exceed a target
fiscal target
government target
high-profile target
inflation target
initial target
intended target
lending target
long-term target
main target
medal target
obvious target
potential target
production target
realistic target
revise a target
set a target
tempting target
tough target
unrealistic target
wrong target
Examples of 'target' in a sentence
target
Certain areas and targets have been identified.
The Sun (2017)
Many people felt that target must have been reached.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This makes it more difficult for the government to reach its housebuilding targets.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were also found to target towns that had prisons where other gang members are serving sentences.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the bank is still an easy target.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It probably would opt to look through the acceleration in inflation and take its time in getting back to the target.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Opposition fans target him for abuse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If access was the aim, its target would not be tangled in these political brambles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is vital that screening is targeted at those groups at highest risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
These target areas from poor signage to overly high charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
So why are innocent people being targeted?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So far the bank levy has failed to reach this target because of shrinking bank balance sheets.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We have those in a season when we will be playing with a target on our backs.
The Sun (2016)
This gives you a target sum to aim at.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They could also be targets for the extremists.
Christianity Today (2000)
Using disease to attack a target is far harder than setting off a conventional bomb.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They have become a much too easy target for advisers who are not worthy of that name.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
These actions are not targeted at any other country.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The main thing they targeted was a container.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The government would miss its fiscal target.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is more effective than injections at targeting areas where viruses enter the body.
The Sun (2007)
Poor people were targeted to sell kidneys and rich ones to buy them.
The Sun (2016)
It was just amazing to reach that target.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Waiting times duly rose and the targets are back.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Monetary policy in this country aims to target inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also intends to target primary schools from next spring.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They see him as a freedom fighter attacking a military target.
The Sun (2013)
Only 16% of all mass killings occur in public places targeting strangers at random.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
To meet those targets, the scheme must expand.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
target
British English: target /ˈtɑːɡɪt/ NOUN
A target is something that someone is trying to hit with a weapon or other object.
Both his kicks missed the target.
American English: target
Arabic: هَدَف
Brazilian Portuguese: alvo
Chinese: 目标
Croatian: meta
Czech: terč
Danish: mål
Dutch: doel bestemming
European Spanish: objetivo blanco
Finnish: maalitaulu
French: cible
German: Zielscheibe
Greek: στόχος
Italian: obiettivo
Japanese: 標的
Korean: 표적
Norwegian: mål
Polish: cel
European Portuguese: alvo
Romanian: țintă
Russian: мишень
Latin American Spanish: objetivo
Swedish: mål målsättning
Thai: เป้าหมาย
Turkish: hedef
Ukrainian: ціль
Vietnamese: mục tiêu
British English: target VERB
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
Party members targeted her as vulnerable in her bid for reelection this year.
American English: target
Brazilian Portuguese: tomar como alvo
Chinese: 针对...攻击
European Spanish: apuntar
French: prendre pour cible
German: zielen auf
Italian: prendere di mira
Japanese: 攻撃目標にする
Korean: 겨냥하다
European Portuguese: ter como alvo
Latin American Spanish: apuntar
All related terms of 'target'
on target
If someone or something is on target , they are making good progress and are likely to achieve the result that is wanted .
main target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
soft target
a thing or a person that is easy to criticize or make an attack upon
target area
an area that has been designated for attack
target date
a date aimed at, as for the end of a project
target man
an attacking player to whom high crosses and centres are played, esp a tall forward
fiscal target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
medal target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve.
sales target
a fixed amount of sales that a person or organization wants to achieve
target group
the group people that a policy or campaign is hoping to influence in some way
target market
A target market is a market in which a company is trying to sell its products or services.
target price
the price at which a stockholder will sell stock
target weight
The weight of a person or thing is how heavy they are, measured in units such as kilograms , pounds , or tons .
tough target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve.
wrong target
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
deficit target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
initial target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve.
intended target
A target is something at which someone is aiming a weapon or other object.
lending target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
obvious target
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
set a target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
sitting target
A sitting target is the same as a → sitting duck .
target audience
the target audience of a programme is the group of people that the programme-makers are trying to persuade to watch or listen to it
target language
the language into which a text , document , etc, is translated
target practice
practice at hitting the target in a sport such as archery or shooting
target vehicle
a spacecraft used to develop and practise orbital space rendezvous and docking techniques in preparation for the lunar missions
tempting target
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
attainment target
a general defined level of ability that a pupil is expected to achieve in every subject at each key stage in the National Curriculum
bomb a target
A target is something at which someone is aiming a weapon or other object.
challenging target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
government target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
inflation target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
potential target
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
production target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
realistic target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
target inflation
Inflation is a general increase in the prices of goods and services in a country.
unrealistic target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve.
become a target
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
exceed a target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
long-term target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
revise a target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
high-profile target
To target a particular person or thing means to decide to attack or criticize them.
moving target indicator
a Doppler-radar presentation that indicates moving targets only, stationary objects reflecting signals that the system rejects
be shooting for the same target
if two people are shooting for the same target , they are in agreement about what they are trying to achieve together
Chinese translation of 'target'
target
(ˈtɑːɡɪt)
n(c)
(of missile) 目标(標) (mùbiāo) (个(個), gè)
(fig, of criticism, abuse) 对(對)象 (duìxiàng) (个(個), gè)
(= aim) 目标(標) (mùbiāo) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= attack)[troops etc]瞄准(準) (miáozhǔn)
(= try to solve)[problem]尽(盡)力解决(決) (jìnlì jiějué)