# targeting

/ˈtɑɹɡətɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈɑːɡɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/targeting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. focusing on a group

verb · CEFR B2

choosing a specific group of people to sell something to or to influence.

For teachers: the act of directing advertising, criticism, or information at a specific audience or demographic.

- The company is targeting young families with its new line of healthy snacks.
- By targeting high-income professionals in urban areas, the marketing campaign achieved a significantly higher conversion rate than previous broad-spectrum efforts.

Usage: Often used in the continuous tense with a direct object.

### 2. the act of aiming

noun · CEFR B2

the process of selecting a goal or a person to attack or help.

For teachers: the identification and selection of specific objects or individuals for action, whether military, social, or commercial.

- The targeting of innocent civilians during the conflict was condemned by the world.
- Precise targeting is essential in modern charity work to ensure that resources reach the most vulnerable populations effectively.

### 3. biological transport

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing how proteins move to the right place in a cell.

For teachers: relating to the mechanisms by which a cell directs a protein to its appropriate intracellular or extracellular destination.

- The scientist studied the protein targeting process to understand how cells stay healthy.
- Defects in the protein targeting pathway can lead to a variety of metabolic disorders as essential enzymes fail to reach the mitochondria.

Usage: Usually appears immediately before the noun it modifies.

## Examples

- The company is targeting younger customers with this new ad.
- By targeting specific neighborhoods for the new recycling program, the city hopes to increase participation rates by twenty percent.
- Public health officials are targeting rural communities with mobile clinics to ensure that geographic isolation does not prevent vulnerable populations from receiving necessary vaccinations.

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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.