Goals — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈgōl/ (noun) /ˌsəb-ˈgōl/ (noun)

Meaning & Definition of Goals

Goals (noun)

  1. the end toward which effort is directed, aim
  2. an area or object toward which players in various games (such as soccer and hockey) attempt to advance a ball or puck and usually through or into which it must go to score points
  3. the act or action of causing a ball or puck to go through or into such a goal
  4. a score of three points in football made by drop-kicking or placekicking the ball over the crossbar from ordinary play
  5. a goal in basketball made while the ball is in play
  6. a goal that is involved in or secondary to achieving a larger goal

Goals (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "leaving the world a better place than I found it is one of my main goals"

    similar: aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends, ideals, ideas, intentions, intents, marks, meanings, objectives, objects, plans, points, pretensions, purposes, targets, things
    related: grails, holy grails, plots, projects, schemes, desires, hopes, minds, wishes, nirvanas, destinations, termini
    near: means, methods, ways

Related Entry: Goal (noun)

Goal is a different word from Goals. The synonyms below are for goal, not for goals.

  1. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "leaving the world a better place than I found it is one of my main goals"

    similar: aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne, design, dream, end, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game
    related: grail, holy grail, plot, project, scheme, desire, hope, mind, wish, nirvana, destination, terminus
    near: means, method, way

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Goals

The most common words with a similar meaning to Goals:

aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends, ideals, ideas, intentions, intents, marks, meanings, objectives, objects, plans, points, pretensions, purposes, targets, things

Related Words for Goals

grails, holy grails, plots, projects, schemes, desires, hopes, minds, wishes, nirvanas, destinations, termini

Near Antonyms of Goals

means, methods, ways

Word Forms of Goals

Inflections: sub-goals

Derived words: goal (intransitive verb), goalless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Goals

Middle English gol boundary, limit

First known use: 1531

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Goals

Frequently Asked Questions about Goals

What does "Goals" mean?

"Goals" means the end toward which effort is directed, aim. As a noun, it is defined as: the end toward which effort is directed, aim.

What is another word for "Goals"?

Other words for "Goals" include aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends and ideals. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Goals" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Goals"?

There are 33 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Goals". Common alternatives include aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends, ideals, ideas and intentions.

How do you use "Goals" in a sentence?

Examples of "Goals" in a sentence: "leaving the world a better place than I found it is one of my main goals".

Is "Goals" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Goals" is a noun.

Is "Goals" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Goals"?

"Goals" is pronounced /ˈgōl/ as a noun and /ˌsəb-ˈgōl/ as a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Goals"?

"Goals" comes from Middle English gol boundary, limit. First known use: 1531.