Definitions
01an aim or objective
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
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.
“Her main goal this year is to save enough money for a new car.”
“The primary goal of the new environmental policy is to reduce carbon emissions by forty percent over the next decade.”
02sports scoring area
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Sports
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.
“The goalkeeper stood right in front of the goal to block the shot.”
“The striker aimed for the top corner of the goal, narrowly missing the crossbar in the final minute of the match.”
03a point scored
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Sports
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.
“They won the game by just one goal in the final seconds.”
“After a scoreless first half, the home team finally managed to secure a goal following a precise corner kick.”
04linguistic patient
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Academic · Technical
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.
“In the sentence 'He kicked the ball', the ball is the goal of the action.”
“In functional grammar, the goal is the participant to which the process is directed, often corresponding to the direct object in active constructions.”
Usage
Often used in the context of thematic roles or semantic analysis.
Antonyms
05to score
B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports Informal
v. to successfully put the ball into the goal.
v. to score a goal in a sporting competition.
“He managed to goal twice during the second half of the match.”
“The young forward was praised for his ability to goal consistently even under intense defensive pressure.”
Usage
This verb use is less common than the phrase 'to score a goal'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “goal” in context.
Real-World Examples
“The Socceroos have to settle for a draw as five-time world champions score a last-gasp goal to cancel out Irankunda’s stunning free kick.” “Whether it's a birthday, mid-year or a Monday morning, psychologists say that these "fresh start" moments can make us more motivated to change our behaviour and more likely to pursue our goals.” “New research has shown that sticking with the wrong goal can lead to stress, anxiety and depression, but that walking away from a goal, modifying it, or finding a new one can lead to improved mental health.” “Germany's Mario Götze, left, celebrates with Thomas Müller after scoring the winning goal during extra time in the final.” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/goal
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR