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target
/ˈtɑːrɡɪt/
object of attention or action
The company's new marketing campaign aims to reach its target audience of young adults.
The campaign is designed to appeal specifically to young adults.
general
A person, object, or place selected as the aim of an attack, criticism, or action.
The archer's target was the bullseye on the board.
The bullseye was the specific point the archer aimed to hit.
Often used in military, sports, or general contexts to denote what is being aimed at.
general
A result or situation that someone wants to achieve.
Our sales target for this quarter is $500,000.
The company aims to earn $500,000 in sales during this quarter.
Common in business and personal goal-setting contexts.
general
To select as an object of attention or attack.
The company decided to target young professionals with its new product.
The company chose young professionals as the focus of its marketing efforts.
Used as a verb to indicate the act of directing efforts or actions toward a specific group or goal.
Collocations
target audiencethe specific group of people intended to receive a message or producttarget marketa particular group of consumers at which a product or service is aimedmeet a targetachieve a goal or objectiveset a targetestablish a goal to aim for
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish between 'target' as a noun and verb
As a noun, 'target' refers to the object of attention (e.g., 'The target of the campaign was young adults'). As a verb, it means to direct efforts toward something (e.g., 'The company decided to target young professionals').
Gold Rule
Use 'target' for goals and objectives
In business and personal contexts, 'target' is often used to describe a specific goal or objective that someone aims to achieve (e.g., 'Our target is to increase sales by 20%').
Use 'target' for directed actions
When referring to directing efforts or actions toward a specific group or goal, use 'target' as a verb (e.g., 'The advertisement targets teenagers').
Word Origin
From Middle English *targete*, from Old French *targette*, diminutive of *targe* (a light shield), of Germanic origin; related to Old English *targe* (shield). The word evolved from a physical object to a metaphorical one, broadening to include any object of attention or action.
Usage Notes
The word 'target' can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to something that is being aimed at or focused on. As a verb, it means to direct efforts or actions toward a specific goal or group. The word is widely used in business, marketing, sports, and military contexts.
Word Breakdown
target
object of attention or action
rootEnglish Dictionary