ENGLISH
REFERENCE

targeting

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtɑɹɡətɪŋ// UK //tˈɑːɡɪtɪŋ// tar·get·ing

v. to aim an attack, a message, or a product at a specific person or group. You use this when you have a clear goal or audience in mind.

v. directing an action, effort, or advertisement toward a specific object or demographic. Often used in the present participle form to describe ongoing strategic focus.


SIMPLE

The company is targeting younger customers with this new ad.

CONTEXTUAL

By targeting specific neighborhoods for the new recycling program, the city hopes to increase participation rates by twenty percent.

COMPLEX

Public health officials are targeting rural communities with mobile clinics to ensure that geographic isolation does not prevent vulnerable populations from receiving necessary vaccinations.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; it is frequently used in the progressive aspect to describe marketing or military strategies.

Pitfall

targeting to the youthtargeting the youthTargeting is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'to' before its object.

© 2026 English Reference