# goal

/ˈɡoʊɫ/ (US) · /ɡˈəʊl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/goal
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. an aim or objective

noun · CEFR A2

something that you hope to achieve in the future.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. sports scoring area

noun · CEFR A2

the area or structure that players try to put a ball into to score points.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a point scored

noun · CEFR A2

a point made in a game when the ball goes into the net.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. linguistic patient

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

the person or thing that receives the action of a verb.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. to score

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to successfully put the ball into the goal.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- My main goal is to learn ten new words every day.
- The striker kicked the ball into the net to score the winning goal in the final minute.
- While short-term objectives are necessary for daily operations, the company's ultimate goal remains the complete transition to renewable energy sources by the end of the decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.