Aim

clarify aim

You’ll need to clarify the aims and objectives of your project. Make sure you state them clearly at the beginning of your report.

achieve aim

Our organization is committed to achieving its aims through peaceful means. We totally reject violence as a means of political change.

pursue aim

Some companies pursue their aims in a very ruthless way – with no thought of what they are doing to the environment.

support aim

I support the aims of animal rights activists because I want to see a ban on using animals in experiments.

have aim

He’s just drifting. He seems to have no aims in life at all. Would you talk to him?

set out aim

All parents receive a booklet which sets out the school’s aims and objectives before children start their first term.

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My sister went to Valencia last year with the aim of finding employment in the hotel industry so that she could improve her Spanish.

This booklet has been produced with the aim of increasing public awareness of AIDS.

A new scheme has been set up with the aim of reducing people’s dependency on the welfare state.

The police regularly visit schools in run-down inner-city areas with the aim of improving community relations.

A new charity has been set up with the aim of tackling homelessness among young single men.

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clear aim

Before you start this project, it is important to have a clear aim in mind. You really need to know where you’re going.

laudable aim

Increasing the state pension is a laudable aim, but I don’t think the country can afford it.

long-term aim

Promotion to the first division is the long-term aim of the club, but our immediate aim is to win our next match.

broad aim

I sympathize with the broad aims of the party, but on this particular issue, I’m afraid I have to disagree.

underlying aim

Although the President is here on an official visit, I think the underlying aim is to promote trade.

sole aim

He’s a selfish sort of person. His sole aim in life seems to be to make money.

common aim

This company will only be successful if people work together with common aims.

Notes   

Look at this common expression:

• We’re paying so much attention to the details of the plan that we are in danger of losing sight of our original aims.

Notice these adjective collocations used to talk about very important aims:

• In his speech he said that the ultimate aim of the party was to get rid of poverty.
• The chief / main aim of the course is to familiarize you with the uses of the Internet.
• The principal aim of education must be to encourage young people to think for themselves.
• The overriding aim of US foreign policy at that time was to prevent the spread of communism.
• The primary aim in some wrestling is to knock your opponent right out of the ring!

Notice short-term, medium-term, and long-term aims or goals.