Meaning & use
shared goal
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Meanings
nouncountable
An aim that two or more people or groups both want to achieve.
Grammar: Countable: say 'a shared goal' or 'shared goals', and note the plural 'goals'.
Patterns
- a shared goal of doing something
- work toward a shared goal
- pursue a shared goal
The two teams worked toward a shared goal: finishing the bridge by June.
Parents and teachers need a shared goal for each child's progress.
Despite their differences, they found a shared goal and cooperated.
nouncountablebusinessformal
In business and politics, a common objective that partners or allies formally agree on.
Grammar: Used in formal contexts, often with 'common' or 'mutual' nearby for emphasis.
Patterns
- a shared goal between someone and someone
- agree on a shared goal
- a shared goal for the region
The merger was built on a shared goal of entering the Asian market.
Both countries signed a treaty with a shared goal of reducing emissions.
The board set a shared goal for all departments this year.
Word forms
| plural | shared goals |
|---|
Common combinations
- work toward a shared goal
- The volunteers worked toward a shared goal of cleaning the whole beach.
- a shared goal of + -ing
- They have a shared goal of improving literacy in the region.
- a common/shared goal
- A common shared goal keeps a team focused.
- pursue a shared goal
- The two companies decided to pursue a shared goal in research.
- achieve a shared goal
- They finally achieved their shared goal after months of planning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- common goal
- Very close in meaning and often interchangeable; 'common' stresses that everyone has it, 'shared' stresses that it is held together.
- mutual aim
- More formal and slightly old-fashioned; used in treaties and official statements.
- joint objective
- Used in business writing for a specific, measurable target that partners agree on.
Opposites
Word family
- share verb
- To have or use something together with others.
- shared adjective
- Belonging to or used by more than one person or group.
- shareholder noun
- A person who owns part of a company.
Commonly confused: shared goal or common goal?
shared goal vs common goal
Nearly the same, but 'common' can suggest something ordinary or widespread; 'shared' focuses on joint ownership of the aim.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'shared goal' correctly?
Choose one answer.
After 'a shared goal', use 'to + verb' or 'of + -ing': 'a shared goal to reduce waste' or 'a shared goal of reducing waste'. Option 2 uses 'of' with the base verb, option 3 omits 'a', and option 4 mixes 'a' with the plural 'goals'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shared goal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.