Is 'target' always something negative, like in 'target of an attack'?

No. While it can be negative (target of criticism), it is very commonly neutral or positive in contexts like business (sales target) or personal development (fitness target).

What's the difference between 'target', 'goal', and 'objective'?

'Goal' is often broader and more aspirational. 'Objective' is more formal and often used in strategic planning. 'Target' is the most specific and measurable of the three, implying a precise point to be hit.

Can 'target' be used as a verb?

Yes, very commonly. It means to direct something (an action, product, criticism) at a particular person, group, or system (e.g., 'The law targets tax evasion').

What does 'on target' mean?

It means progressing satisfactorily towards achieving a goal or meeting a schedule (e.g., 'Our project is on target to finish by Friday').

water target

UK/ˈtɑːɡɪt/US/ˈtɑːrɡɪt/

Neutral to formal; common in business, military, sports, and everyday contexts.

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

An object, person, or place selected as the aim of an attack, criticism, or action; a goal or objective to be achieved.

In business and computing, a specific group, demographic, or system intended to be reached or affected by a product, campaign, or process.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Implies intentional focus and measurement of success. Can be concrete (shooting target) or abstract (sales target). Often used with verbs like 'hit', 'miss', 'set', 'achieve', 'exceed'.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minimal. Slightly more frequent in UK business jargon ('on target', 'target audience'). US usage may more commonly use 'goal' interchangeably in casual contexts.

Connotations

Both share core meanings. In UK public discourse, 'target' can carry a stronger nuance of government or institutional metrics (e.g., NHS targets).

Frequency

Equally high frequency in both varieties.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

meet a targetset a targetachieve a targetexceed a targetprimary targetspecific targettarget audiencetarget marketon target

medium

sales targetannual targetrealistic targetmiss a targetshift targetkey targettarget datetarget group

weak

easy targetsoft targettarget of opportunitytarget weighttarget language

Grammar

Valency Patterns

target someone/something (as something)target something at/on someone/somethingtarget someone/something for something

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

quotabenchmarkmark

Neutral

goalobjectiveaim

Weak

destinationendpurpose

Vocabulary

Antonyms

starting pointavoidancenon-goal

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“be in the crosshairs”
“move the goalposts”
“a sitting duck”
“hit the bullseye”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

We need to revise our Q3 revenue targets.

Academic

The study identified its target demographic as urban adolescents.

Everyday

My target is to save £50 a week.

Technical

The missile locked onto its thermal target.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The campaign targets young voters.
The new policy is targeted at reducing waste.

American English

The ad targets homeowners in the Midwest.
The software targets specific vulnerabilities.

adverb

British English

(Rarely used as a pure adverb. Typically 'on target')

American English

(Rarely used as a pure adverb. Typically 'on target')

adjective

British English

The target date is set for June.
We've identified our target market.

American English

What's the target completion time?
The target demographic is shifting.

Examples

By CEFR Level

Look at the red target on the wall.
My target is to read one book this month.

The company set a sales target for the team.
The archer hit the centre of the target.

Criticism was primarily targeted at the government's handling of the crisis.
The marketing strategy successfully reached its target audience.

The algorithm dynamically targets content based on user engagement metrics.
Achieving these ambitious carbon emission targets will require systemic change.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of an archery TARGET with rings – you aim for the centre. TAR-get. You 'get' to the 'tar' (goal).

Conceptual Metaphor

ACHIEVING A GOAL IS HITTING A TARGET (e.g., 'We're on target', 'He missed his targets').

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Не переводите всегда как 'цель'. В бизнес-контексте 'target' часто означает конкретный измеримый показатель, а 'goal' может быть более общей целью. 'Target audience' = 'целевая аудитория', а не 'целевая публика'.

Common Mistakes

Using 'target to' instead of 'target for' (Incorrect: 'He is a target to criticism.' Correct: 'He is a target for criticism.'). Confusing 'target' (n.) with 'aim' (v.) structure.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The charity's campaign is specifically at raising awareness among teenagers.

Multiple Choice

In a business context, which phrase is most likely to refer to a measurable outcome?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. While it can be negative (target of criticism), it is very commonly neutral or positive in contexts like business (sales target) or personal development (fitness target).
: 'Goal' is often broader and more aspirational. 'Objective' is more formal and often used in strategic planning. 'Target' is the most specific and measurable of the three, implying a precise point to be hit.
: Yes, very commonly. It means to direct something (an action, product, criticism) at a particular person, group, or system (e.g., 'The law targets tax evasion').
: It means progressing satisfactorily towards achieving a goal or meeting a schedule (e.g., 'Our project is on target to finish by Friday').