Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

target

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
noun [countable] American English pronunciation: target /ˈtɑrɡət/ 
Word Forms
Close
singulartarget
pluraltargets
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    an object that you have to hit in a game or a sport
    on/off target (=accurate or not accurate):

    Few players managed to get their shots on target.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of target
    1. a.
      a person, building, or area that someone intends to attack

      Foreigners have become targets for attack by terrorists.

      The house was left empty and therefore a target for vandals.

      a murderer who carefully selected his targets

      potential military targets such as air bases and oil fields

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of target
    2. b.
      something such as a person, idea, or statement that can be criticized
      target for:

      His war record became a target for his enemies.

      easy target:

      Some plans for development offered an easy target in the press.

      target of:

      The policy has become the target of severe criticism.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of target
      See also  sitting target
  2. 2
    something that you try to achieve
    set a target:

    They are setting a target of 2,000 new members.

    meet a target (=achieve it):

    Not many states will meet their targets for energy conservation.

    target level:

    They should get to their target level in about twelve months.

    on/off/below/above target:

    Oil production was 15 percent below target.

    target date (=the date that you are hoping something will be done):

    We are setting June as a target date for completion.

    sales target (=the amount of something that you want to sell):

    The idea is helping staff to achieve their sales targets.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of target
    1. a.
      someone that you are trying to get as a customer or audience

      the paper's target readership

      prime target (=perfect target):

      We think teenagers are a prime target for the antismoking campaign.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of target
    2. b.
      someone or something that you want to deal with or control

      Their best players are now targets for richer teams.

      The mayor was the target of eight separate tax investigations.

      They made an offer for the target company (=the one they wanted to buy).

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of target

This is the American English definition of target. View British English definition of target.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for target.

 

caxirola

a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

emancipation

the process of giving freedom and rights to someone

Open Dictionary

pierce the corporate veil

… the decision to treat the rights and duties of a company as being the same as the rights and duties of its shareholders

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog