target
target — noun
1. a flat surface marked with coloured circles that people shoot at during practice
a flat surface marked with coloured circles that people shoot at during practice, or any physical object or location used as a mark for weapons such as guns or bows
Amihan aimed her bow carefully and hit the centre of the target.
hit the centre of the target — archery context
The sound of targets being hit echoed from the shooting range behind the hospital.
passive: targets being hit
Christopher painted a fresh white target on a wooden board for the weekend competition.
Beatrix set up cardboard targets along the fence before the archery class arrived.
The soldiers carried heavy targets to the training ground before the exercise began.
常見錯誤
2. the particular person, group, or audience that a product, advertisement, service
the particular person, group, or audience that a product, advertisement, service, or message is designed to reach
The new magazine's target is women who enjoy cooking and gardening at home.
noun: target + is + [group]
Advertisements for baby products clearly identify their target as new parents.
identify their target as [group]
Community leaders were surprised the city's plan did not list them as a target audience.
Mert realised his clothing brand's target was much younger than he had assumed.
The charity's main target is working parents who struggle with child-care costs.
- audience
broader — anyone who reads, watches, or listens, not necessarily the intended receiver
- demographic
a statistical group of people defined by age, income, location, etc.; more technical and data-driven
- market
focuses on commercial potential and buying behaviour rather than the communication target
用法筆記
Often placed before another noun to form a compound: 'target audience', 'target market', 'target customer', 'target demographic'. In this compound pattern the word functions as an attributive noun (modifier).
3. a person or group that others criticize, make fun of, or treat badly
a person or group that others criticize, make fun of, or treat badly
After the product recall, the company became the target of angry customers and journalists.
became the target of [group]
Tamar was an easy target for jokes because of her bright purple jacket.
an easy target for [something]
The mayor's plan to cut bus routes made her a target of public anger.
Camila became the target of online trolls after posting her honest film review.
New students are often the target of teasing until they find a group of friends.
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the fixed expression 'easy target' (someone who is vulnerable to criticism or attack). Common collocating verbs: 'become a target', 'make someone a target', 'be a target for/of'.
常見錯誤
4. a specific result, level, or number that you plan to achieve within a certain pe
a specific result, level, or number that you plan to achieve within a certain period, especially in business, finance, education, or personal development
Élise set a target of reading one book every week for the whole year.
set a target of + [gerund phrase]
The sales team reached their annual target three months before the deadline.
reached / missed / exceeded target
Our target is to raise fifteen thousand dollars for the local library by August.
Anya missed her monthly savings target because of an unexpected car repair.
The government announced a new target for reducing carbon emissions by 2030.
用法筆記
Common verbs paired with this sense: 'set a target', 'reach a target', 'meet a target', 'miss a target', 'achieve a target', 'exceed a target'. A 'target' in this sense is always measurable and concrete, unlike 'goal' which can be more abstract.
常見錯誤
target — verb
1. to aim advertising, a product, criticism, or a service at a particular person, g
to aim advertising, a product, criticism, or a service at a particular person, group, or market because you want to reach or affect them
The company targets its online advertisements at students who need part-time work.
targets [product] at [group]
The new environmental policy is targeted at reducing plastic waste in coastal areas.
passive: is targeted at + [gerund]
Samir's beginner cooking class targets people who have never boiled an egg before.
The new educational app targets children between the ages of five and eight.
The campaign was targeted at young voters who had not registered for the election.
文法句型
target + noun phrase + at + noun phrase
be targeted at + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 2 (AIM AT): this sense involves commercial, communicative, or strategic direction (ads, policies, products), never physical weapons. Frequently used in the passive: 'The programme is targeted at teenagers.'
常見錯誤
2. to aim a weapon such as a gun, missile, or bomb at a particular person, place, o
to aim a weapon such as a gun, missile, or bomb at a particular person, place, or object with the intention of hitting it
The hunter targeted a wild rabbit hiding behind a bush near the riverbank.
targeted + [living creature]
The pilots were ordered to target only supply trucks and not civilian vehicles.
Inês targeted the farthest flag on the obstacle course with her paintball gun.
The sniper targeted the engine of the armoured vehicle from a hidden position.
Jisoo carefully targeted the centre of the paper target with her new air rifle.
- aim at
focuses on the act of pointing a weapon; 'target' implies the weapon is already directed at a specific object
文法句型
target + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is strictly physical — you are pointing a weapon at something that can be hit. For abstract or commercial direction, use verb sense 1 (DIRECT AT). Unlike 'aim', 'target' always implies a specific and identifiable object or person, not a general direction.