goal

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Something a person aims to achieve, especially as the focus of sustained effort or planning.

   Grammar: Takes of plus -ing or a to-infinitive after be: the goal of finishing, my goal is to finish.

   Patterns

   • achieve a goal
   • set a goal
   • goal of doing something
   • long-term goal

   My goal this year is to save more money.

   The team's goal of finishing early kept everyone focused.

   It took five years of steady work to achieve that goal.

2. 2nouncountablesport

   In many sports, an act of sending the ball or puck into the target area to score a point.

   Grammar: Collocates with score, concede, or win: score a goal, not make a goal in most sports.

   Patterns

   • score a goal
   • concede a goal
   • winning goal

   She scored the winning goal in the final minute.

   Their second goal came from a penalty.

   He celebrated after scoring a goal on his debut.

3. 3nouncountablesport

   In sports such as football or hockey, the structure or area between posts where players send the ball to score.

   Grammar: Names the physical target: the ball crossed the goal line.

   Patterns

   • into the goal
   • in goal
   • defend the goal

   The ball hit the post and bounced into the goal.

   He has played in goal for the national team for years.

   A fence was added behind the goal to protect spectators.

Word forms

Common combinations

achieve a goal

She achieved her goal of running a marathon.

set a goal

Set yourself a realistic goal for this month.

long-term goal

Buying a house is our long-term goal.

score a goal

He scored a goal in the last minute of the game.

own goal

The defender scored an own goal under pressure.

Synonyms and how they differ

aim

Aim is the closest everyday word; a goal often implies longer-term planned effort.

objective

Objective is common in formal or business contexts for a specific, measurable target.

target

Target suggests a fixed, often numerical result to hit, such as sales of one million.

ambition

Ambition is a personal long-term dream and applies to people rather than projects.

Word family

goalless adjective

Without any goals scored: a goalless draw.

goalkeeper noun

The player who guards the goal and stops shots.

goalpost noun

One of the two upright posts forming a goal.

Commonly confused: goal or gaol?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “goal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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