goal
(goʊl )
Word forms: goals
1. countable noun A2
In games such as football, netball, or hockey, the goal is the space into which the players try to get the ball in order to score a point for their team.
The keeper was back in goal after breaking a knuckle.
2. countable noun A2
In games such as football or hockey, a goal is when a player gets the ball into the goal, or the point that is scored by doing this.
They scored five goals in the first half of the match.
...the scorer of the winning goal.
3. countable noun B1
Something that is your goal is something that you hope to achieve, especially when much time and effort will be needed.
It's a matter of setting your own goals and following them.
The goal is to raise as much money as possible.
Synonyms: aim, end, target, purpose
Image of goal
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Idioms:
an own goal [British]
a failure to achieve something which results in damage to your own interests
He said that the Government must get its act together and stop scoring economic own goals.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collocations:
concede a goal disallow a goal early goal goal setting individual goal league goal legitimate goal lofty goal long-range goal long-term goal main goal meet a goal mission goal modest goal overall goal personal goal policy goal primary goal pursue a goal reach a goal realistic goal score a goal set a goal share a goal shared goal short-term goal sloppy goal specific goal stated goal strategic goal stunning goal superb goal ultimate goal winning goal worthy goal
Last season they won nine consecutive games without conceding a goal.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The teamhave lost their past three matches, conceding 11 goals and scoring none.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They have conceded just nine league goals all season.
The Sun (2014)
As far as I understand it, the goal was disallowed for an infringement.
The Sun (2009)
Between them they should have seen it and disallowed the goal.
The Sun (2016)
The linesman flagged in error and the goal was disallowed .
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Although they gave away an early goal, they proceeded to run the match.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Unless the home side can score an early goal it's always going to be a struggle.
The Sun (2016)
It's crucial for us not to concede an early goal.
The Sun (2006)
Chapters cover such areas as goal setting, role expectations, hiring staff, and conducting retreats.
Christianity Today
Again the process of goal setting cannot be bad.
Christianity Today
At that point a leader interrupted with his perspective regarding goal setting.
Christianity Today
Goal setting will give your workouts a purpose with added motivation.
The Sun
Helpful for personal goal setting as well as helping others set goals.
Christianity Today
It was a quite lovely individual goal that was worthy of the celebration in which the 23-year-old ran to embrace his manager.
Times,Sunday Times
But he got two gold medals here — an individual goal and a gong for his contribution to his team's success.
The Sun
Whatever the joint or individual goal, it imports new things into the relationship and avoids stagnation.
Times, Sunday Times
Contrast this with the silence that follows a great individual goal or skill by an opposition player in football and even in rugby.
Times, Sunday Times
If that was a fine individual goal, then a splendid team effort graced this grand occasion.
Times, Sunday Times
It was his sixth league goal in total - but four have been penalties.
The Sun (2014)
He scored 15 league goals last season.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was his first league goal this season, adding to the two he has netted in Europe.
The Sun (2011)
They also had a strong penalty appeal turned down and a legitimate goal wiped out.
Times, Sunday Times
To wind the tape back and conclude that, actually, it was a legitimate goal?
Times, Sunday Times
We scored a perfectly legitimate goal that could have changed the pathway of the second half, it could have been different.
Times, Sunday Times
At any rate, the crowd had as much of a claim to a legitimate goal as anyone else in the ground that night.
Times, Sunday Times
It was a perfectly legitimate goal.
Times, Sunday Times
It would be wise to consider a legal career in its broadest sense rather than narrowing yourself to the lofty goal of barrister.
Times, Sunday Times
In an age when schools are sometimes described as 'exam factories', drilling pupils in how to pass papers, making students think for themselves might seem like a lofty goal.
Times, Sunday Times
The lofty goal of this all-encompassing, unified art form seems to be fading.
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The team jumped from twelfth to fifth, rather short of its lofty goal.
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That's a very ambitious and lofty goal, but that's my goal.
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At last, though, it seemed there was an authentic long-range goal last night as the second round of games began.
Times, Sunday Times
Matches can end up painful, groundout nil-nil draws and it leaves you harking back for some of the long-range goals of yesteryear.
The Sun
The most important are the few key ones concerning staff and long-range goals.
Christianity Today
Over the past three seasons though, those numbers have plummeted, and last year long-range goals hit their lowest level since records began.
Times, Sunday Times
Both can kick long-range goals.
Times, Sunday Times
I don't want to jeopardise long-term goals for short-term gain.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I admire your determination to get a job, but this long-term goal needs to be approached in a graded, realistic manner.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She knows how to handle her schedule and she loves setting herself long-term goals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her body seemed to vibrate with it, and his main goal was to get her back to the hospital, where she could sit and decompress.
BLINDSIGHTED (2001)
But her main goal, she says, is to shed light on the music itself.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The main goal was to build scenarios regarding the future of economic deconcentration.
2010, 'Simulation of urban development in the City of Rome: Framework, methodology, and problem solving', Journal of Transport and Land Use
New upgraders are needed to meet this goal as the oil sands expand.
Globe and Mail
Leaders from the world's eight richest countries agreed to boost funding for research to meet the goal.
The Sun
But it has now been revealed that in order to meet the goal, rooms will merely be divided off.
The Sun
Leaders know what the group needs, and they make a plan to meet that goal.
Christianity Today
Even with their co-operation, it won't be easy to meet the goal of cutting emissions by 40% to 70% from 2010 levels by 2050.
Times, Sunday Times
The primary laser achieved its mission goal of three years of successful operation, and the redundant laser has been performing beyond expectations.
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The international program supports the mission goal of preparing students to be successful in a global economy, understanding the world and their places in it.
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This mission goal was not met, with the reactors of the research facility only slightly damaged, although many of the secondary targets were hit.
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A service robot has to be able to pursue a certain mission goal as commanded from its user but also needs to react flexibly to dynamic changes within the workspace.
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The missions during this period are tutorial in nature, having on screen prompts and instructions on how to achieve the mission goals.
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Even this modest goal will not be easy.
Times, Sunday Times
If some other outcome were the goal, however-say the more modest goal of replication-then that outcome would have no particular value.
Christianity Today
His modest goal was to turn the company into 'an excellent corporate citizen of planet earth'.
Times, Sunday Times
But it pursues this modest goal according to blockbuster logic, which buries the easy, scrappy pleasures of the old stuff in expensive excess.
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That means starting with modest goals and building up steam.
Times,Sunday Times
Taking the money out goes against our overall goal of getting millions more people saving.
Times, Sunday Times
His overall goal: get there first and get back alive.
Christianity Today
Finally, private sector companies have one overall goal: to make money.
Times, Sunday Times
Although it isn't the same experience, players all contribute to the overall goal of survival.
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However, the overall goal can be seen as effectively managing differentiated relationships with all customers and communicating with them on an individual basis.
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Digging deep and letting your true feelings show takes a personal goal to the next stage.
The Sun
But it's always been my personal goal to do a tenth season.
Times, Sunday Times
His personal goal was to be the implementer of technology that would improve people's lives.
Times, Sunday Times
If you're tempted to limit a personal goal, resist.
The Sun
You have the extra energy and the touch of luck that help you achieve a personal goal.
The Sun
Legal objections have not always been regarded as an impediment to the implementation of what was regarded as a desirable policy goal.
Times, Sunday Times
We know that at least one policy goal has been achieved.
Times,Sunday Times
A key foreign policy goal, but a difficult one to achieve.
Times, Sunday Times
That particular old chestnut has been a policy goal in wonk circles for years.
Times, Sunday Times
This policy goal lacks definition of the term genetic pollution.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
His primary goal as deputy minister was to end the exploitation of farm workers and to stop unfair evictions.
ST
In general, his primary goal was to keep the battle going, whether he stood slightly better or slightly worse.
Times, Sunday Times
Spending a lot of time and energy on secondary or tertiary goals cannot help but distract time and energy from the primary goal.
Times, Sunday Times
My primary goal, however, was to rehearse the comfort and the challenge of the gospel for the living.
Christianity Today
Checking e-mail may be your primary goal but you'll hate typing long reports on elfin-sized keys.
Times, Sunday Times
Will she be able to set aside her feelings for him to pursue her goal?
Times, Sunday Times
And tens of thousands of opposition fighters have survived this brutal war to pursue that goal.
Times, Sunday Times
We will make a long-term political commitment to pursue this goal through new, innovative ways.
Times, Sunday Times
With the rapid development and the stability of social environment, enterprises started to pursue the goal of maximum profits and minimum costs.
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She resigned from that position in 1918 in order to pursue her goal of teaching her private school students full-time.
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She was a perfectionist and needed infinite patience to reach her goal.
The Times Literary Supplement
And if we don't teach the goal and preach the goal, we won't reach the goal.
Christianity Today
You are not allowed to throw the ball; you have to push it with your hands until you reach the goal.
Times, Sunday Times
When you reach your goal weight, you can introduce good carbohydrates back into your system, such as sweet potatoes and squash.
The Sun
You can also set savings targets and make one-off saves if you want to reach your goal more quickly.
The Sun
There'll be some helpful advice to help you set a realistic goal.
Times, Sunday Times
Having established a more level playing field, set yourself a realistic goal for self-improvement.
Times, Sunday Times
We now know that it was, in fact, a realistic goal.
Times, Sunday Times
The only realistic goal of next week's meeting would be to agree intermediate steps that would build trust between the governments and provide the basis for agreement and deeper concessions.
Times, Sunday Times
Her hope of being a personal trainer must become a reality because it's vital that she identifies a reasonable but realistic goal to keep her motivated.
The Sun
Loud music blaring out when a goal is scored.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
His first goal was scored direct from a free kick.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Well, there really is no better way to hit back than by scoring the goal which gives his old gaffer one hell of a festive headache.
The Sun (2012)
MAY 2005 'The linesman scored the goal.
The Sun (2011)
If you want to improve your diet, set an achievable goal.
The Sun (2015)
The next section considers the art of setting goals in more detail.
Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
Set attainable goals for six months or a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
With the inner circle of executives, they share the goal of generating as much profit as possible.
Times, Sunday Times
In truth the world's richest country and the world's biggest trading bloc share the goal of making a large internal market the foundation of their prosperity.
Times, Sunday Times
Although all operate slightly differently, they share the goal of encouraging local commerce.
Times, Sunday Times
Falling out with those who share that goal will not help her achieve it.
Times, Sunday Times
Secondly, both disciplines share the goal of enhancing, or preserving, firm value.
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At home, you can get the family to focus on a shared goal.
The Sun
You discover a gift for getting people to work together plus a lucky moon that helps a group of friends to achieve a shared goal.
The Sun
Perhaps that will help you two to reconnect, with a shared goal, and lift your spirits.
Times,Sunday Times
A shared goal will help, too.
The Sun
Relaxing the rules of a weekend job and opening up a team in unexpected ways can bring a shared goal closer.
The Sun
Some investors might suggest that his main short-term goal should be not to mess it up.
Times, Sunday Times
He said the short-term goal was of course to win a grand slam; but let's not lose focus of the long-term goal of 2015.
Times, Sunday Times
Be careful not to do too much high-intensity work unless you have a specific, short-term goal.
Times, Sunday Times
The definition of a short-term goal need not relate to any specific length of time.
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While short-term goals boost morale, long-term rewards are a reason to nurture customers instead of going for the quick sell, he says.
Times, Sunday Times
We had some good chances and we have given away two sloppy goals.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But having said that it was a sloppy goal.
The Sun (2012)
And they simply have to stop conceding sloppy goals.
The Sun (2016)
If they managed to improve the running of the business at the same time, it counted as a welcome extra rather than a specific goal.
Times, Sunday Times
So, in 35 or 40 minutes of a lot of words coming out of my mouth, in my mind, there's always a specific goal.
Christianity Today
If you don't have a specific goal, your training will lack direction.
The Sun
Is it to increase your cardio fitness or have you got a specific goal in mind such as a marathon?
Times, Sunday Times
He has no specific goal in mind.
Times, Sunday Times
Is it really effective in doing its stated goal?
Christianity Today
It said that 'a number of the assumptions that underpin our stated goal and which are beyond management's control are no longer valid'.
Times, Sunday Times
Whatever detail emerges from their joint declaration will be a long way from their stated goal of denuclearisation.
Times, Sunday Times
Part of the stated goal was straightforward science education.
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Their stated goal of decommissioning by 2051 may be impossible, they said.
Times,Sunday Times
He could yet salvage the strategic goal from tactical blunder.
Times, Sunday Times
The two countries consider it their strategic goal to achieve multidimensional co-operation, especially in the fields of energy, transport and the military.
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He also concentrated on the strategic goal of confining the enemy within the mountainous region.
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Although she developed many techniques for establishing the non-consecutivity condition, she did not succeed in her strategic goal.
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Sometimes the counter-offensive can be of a more limited operational maneuver nature, with more limited objectives rather than those seeking attainment of a strategic goal.
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He netted a stunning second goal for the team in their famous 3-0 win last April.
The Sun (2014)
He scored a stunning goal against Liverpool in the Europa League last November.
The Sun (2013)
Hungarian ace has potential to score stunning goals.
The Sun (2010)
He scored a superb third goal within six minutes of his introduction.
The Sun (2014)
A superb early goal was the least he deserved.
The Sun (2010)
It was a superb goal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I had big plans for next year and the ultimate goal was to win back the world heavyweight title.
The Sun
Not content with a quick spin, she revealed her ultimate goal was to stage the first musical performance in space.
The Sun
And playing for your country was the ultimate goal in all our careers.
The Sun
World domination appears to be his ultimate goal.
Times, Sunday Times
All that remained before their plans achieved their ultimate goal was for the target or targets to be finally agreed.
Times, Sunday Times
We won 2-1 and I scored the winning goal with ten minutes to go.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The high point of the game should have been the winning goal.
The Sun (2012)
The winning goal came with the last kick of the second replay.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Survival has become a worthy goal for many enterprises.
Christianity Today
Are you saying that cooperation isn't a worthy goal?
Christianity Today
A worthy goal, but it falls flat for two reasons.
The Times Literary Supplement
It's a worthy goal, but the minds changed by it must be few.
The Times Literary Supplement
It was a worthy goal to earn a point in the derby.
The Sun
Translations:
Chinese: 目标
Japanese: ゴール
- enhance comfort
- enhance communication
- enhance competition
- enhance confidence
- enhanced capability
- enhanced version of
- enhance efficiency
- enhance health
- enhance knowledge
- enhance learning
- enhance memory
- enhancement
- enhance performance
- enhance power
- enhance productivity
- enhancer
- enhance safety
- enhance security
- enhance skills
- enhance stability
- enhance survival
- enhance the ability of
- enhance the accuracy of
- enhance the appearance of
- enhance the atmosphere