n. 1
Intention or goal.
My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings, and kids happy.
n. 2
The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.
Take time with the aim of your gun.
v. 1
To point or direct a missile, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it
He aimed at the target, but the arrow flew straight over it.
v. 2
To direct the intention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor;—followed by at, or by an infinitive
to aim to do well in life

Related words

Word family: aim-crier aimless
Phrases: aim at take aim aim high

Forms

Plural: aims → purposes, goals, intents, designs…
Past participle: aimed
e.g. aimed → directed, taken, trained, pointed…

Choose the right word

Aim, Aspiration, Design, Endeavor or Purpose?

The aim is the direction in which one shoots, or sometimes that which is aimed at. Aspiration, design, endeavor, purpose, referring to the mental acts by which the aim is attained, are often used as interchangeable with aim.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

goal It is not the goal but the way there that matters.
purpose What is the main purpose of your studying English?
intent Diego was following Melissa with malicious intent.
scope This subject is not within the scope of our study.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
aim		steady
goal		rising
purpose		falling
intent		steady
scope		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: get¹, end¹, try¹
4 letters: take¹, mind¹, view¹, goal¹, mark¹, tend¹, bent¹, mint¹
5 letters: place¹, point¹, level², cause¹, drive¹, train¹, scope¹, essay², drift¹, tenor², ettle
6 letters: course¹, reason², design², direct², target², scheme¹, object², intent², strive¹, aspire²
7 letters: purpose², meaning², attempt², heading², bearing², propose², purport²
8 letters: function², struggle², tendency³, endeavor³
9 letters: direction³, objective³, intention³, calculate³, endeavour³
10 letters: aspiration⁴, proclivity⁴
11 letters: destination⁴, inclination⁴
13 letters: determination⁵

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (level² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: visée