often attributive
1
a
: a mark to shoot at
b
: a target marked by shots fired at it
c
: something or someone fired at or marked for attack
d
: a goal to be achieved
2
a
: an object of ridicule or criticism
b
: something or someone to be affected by an action or development
c
US law
: a person against whom a federal prosecutor has substantial evidence of involvement in criminal activity and who the prosecutor believes is likely to be indicted by a grand jury
The full extent of Iacobelli's ongoing cooperation is sealed in federal court, but prosecutors have identified additional targets and Iacobelli could spend less time in prison if his help proves substantial.—
Robert Snell
Robert Snell3
a
: the metallic surface (as of platinum or tungsten) upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted
b
: a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons
especially
: fluorescent material on which desired visual effects are produced in electronic devices (as in radar)
4
: a small round shield
targeted; targeting; targets
1
: to make a target of
targeted her for promotion
especially
: to set as a goal
2
: to direct or use toward a target
Synonyms
Examples of target in a Sentence
Noun
Our target amount for the fund-raiser is $2,500.
They set a target date of May 31.
Planes struck at key military targets.
Tourists are often easy targets for thieves.
Verb
drugs that target cancer cells
Recent Examples on the Web
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Heading into Tuesday’s presidential vote, the Fed would have been justified in celebrating the return of inflation back to its 2% target.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Yet operations targeting individuals have produced devastation and extensive civilian casualties.
—Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for target 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The filing also details various financial agreements, including an amendment to the Perceptive Credit Agreement, which adjusts revenue targets and introduces a maximum operating expense covenant.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Heading into Tuesday’s presidential vote, the Fed would have been justified in celebrating the return of inflation back to its 2% target.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
Other companies, such as Anthropic, are also targeting AI in the workplace and hoping employees embrace it.
—Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Yet operations targeting individuals have produced devastation and extensive civilian casualties.
—Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for target
Dictionary Entries Near target
Cite this Entry
“Target.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/target. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
target
noun
tar·get
ˈtär-gət 
1
: something to be affected by an action or development
specifically
: an organ, part, or tissue that is affected by the action of a hormone
2
a
: the metallic surface usually of platinum or tungsten upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted
b
: a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons
3
: the thought or object that is to be recognized (as by telepathy) or affected (as by psychokinesis) in a parapsychological experiment
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