goal
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.something that you hope to achieve in the future.
n.a desired result that a person or system envisions, plans, and commits to achieve.
Simple“Her main goal this year is to save enough money for a new car.”
In context“The primary goal of the new environmental policy is to reduce carbon emissions by forty percent over the next decade.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.the area or structure that players try to put a ball into to score points.
n.the physical structure or designated area into which players must propel a ball or puck to score.
Simple“The goalkeeper stood right in front of the goal to block the shot.”
In context“The striker aimed for the top corner of the goal, narrowly missing the crossbar in the final minute of the match.”
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.a point made in a game when the ball goes into the net.
n.a successful instance of scoring in sports such as football, hockey, or lacrosse.
Simple“They won the game by just one goal in the final seconds.”
In context“After a scoreless first half, the home team finally managed to secure a goal following a precise corner kick.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.the person or thing that receives the action of a verb.
n.the semantic role of an entity that is the target of an action or the endpoint of a motion.
Simple“In the sentence 'He kicked the ball', the ball is the goal of the action.”
In context“In functional grammar, the goal is the participant to which the process is directed, often corresponding to the direct object in active constructions.”
UsageOften used in the context of thematic roles or semantic analysis.
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to successfully put the ball into the goal.
v.to score a goal in a sporting competition.
Simple“He managed to goal twice during the second half of the match.”
In context“The young forward was praised for his ability to goal consistently even under intense defensive pressure.”
UsageThis verb use is less common than the phrase 'to score a goal'.
Synonyms
Usage goal isn't · goals last · goal difference
From Middle English gol (“boundary, limit”), from Old English gāl (“obstacle, barrier, marker”), from Proto-West Germanic gailu, from Proto-Germanic *gailō (“crevice, gap”); compare the Old English's derivatives Old English gǣlan (“to hinder, delay”), and hyġegǣls (“hesitating, slow, sluggish”), hyġegǣlsa (“slow one, sluggish one”). Possibly cognate with Lithuanian gãlas (“end”), Latvian gals (“end”), Old Prussian gallan (“death”), Albanian ngalem (“to be limping, lame, paralyzed”), ngel (“to remain, linger, hesitate, get stuck”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.