goal

G2O1A1L1
UK/ɡəʊl/UK[ɡɒʊɫ]/ɡɒl/Canada, US/ɡoʊl/

noun

A result that one is attempting to achieve.

“miss a goal”

Similar
ambitionpatienttargetundergoerobject of desireobjectivepurposeaspiration
OriginMiddle English gol ← Old English *gāl ← Proto-West Germanic *gailu →
Very commonScrabble 5
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Meanings

noungoal (plural goals)

plural goals

  1. A result that one is attempting to achieve.

    His goal is to become a YouTuber.

    3 more examples

    My lifelong goal is to get into a Hollywood movie.

    She failed in her goal to become captain of the team.

    The goal should be to strengthen workers without hamstringing firms. Growth, rather than employment protection, is the priority. More work means a stronger labour market, which would bid up employees’ slice, as it did in America in the 1990s when unemployment was at record lows.

    2013 November 2, “A shrinking slice”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8860

    Synonyms: ambition

  2. To do with sports
    1. hobbiesIn many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object.

      play in goal

      5 more examples

      The racers are approaching the goal.

      fans behind the goal

      The ball rolled slowly into the goal.

      He hit the goal 20 yards away.

      a left-footed shot on goal

    2. hobbiesThe act of placing the object into the goal.

      miss a goal

      2 more examples

      concede a goal

      let in a goal

    3. A point scored in a game as a result of placing the object into the goal.

      score a goal

      1 more example

      The former Forest man, who passed a late fitness test, appeared to use Guy Moussi for leverage before nodding in David Fox's free-kick at the far post - his 22nd goal of the season.

      2011 April 15, Saj Chowdhury, “Norwich 2-1 Nott'm Forest”, in BBC Sport
  3. To do with grammar
    1. grammarA noun or noun phrase that receives the action of a verb.
    2. grammarThe subject of a passive verb or the direct object of an active verb.

      Synonyms: patient, target, undergoer

verbgoal (third-person singular simple present goals, present participle goaling, simple past and past participle goaled)

present singular third person goals · participle present goaling · participle past goaled · past goaled

  1. Gaelic football; Australian rules football; Gaelic football; Australian rules footballTo score a goal.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA result that one is attempting to achieve.

Similar
ambition

nounThe subject of a passive verb or the direct object of an active verb.

Similar
patienttargetundergoer
Similar
object of desireobjectivepurposeaspirationaimendterminus ad quemintentionobjectsuccesstelos
Broader
finishthing
Narrower
bullseyepromotionwin

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it

Similar
end
Broader
contentcognitive contentmental object

nounthe place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)

Similar
finishdestination
Broader
endterminal
Also see
causedestinationendfinishintentionmeaningpurposetask

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Germanic*gailō
  3. Proto-West Germanic*gailu
  4. Old English*gāl
  5. Middle Englishgol
  6. Englishgoal

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”).

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek σκοπός
  • σκοπός (skopós)result one is attempting to achieve
Arabic هَدَف, مَقْصَد
  • هَدَف (hadaf)result one is attempting to achieve
  • مَقْصَد (maqṣad)result one is attempting to achieve
  • غَايَة (ḡāya)result one is attempting to achieve
  • مَرْمًى (marman)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • هَدَف (hadaf)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • هَدَف (hadaf)point(s) scored
  • سَجَّلَ هَدَفًا (sajjala hadafan)to score a goal
Basque helburu, xede
  • helbururesult one is attempting to achieve
  • xederesult one is attempting to achieve
  • atein many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
Bengali লক্ষ্য
  • লক্ষ্য (lokkkho)result one is attempting to achieve
Bulgarian цел, врата
  • цел (cel)result one is attempting to achieve
  • врата (vrata)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • гол (gol)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • гол (gol)point(s) scored
Catalan objectiu, meta
  • objectiuresult one is attempting to achieve
  • metaresult one is attempting to achieve
  • porteriain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
Chinese Cantonese 入波
  • 入波 (jap⁶ bo¹)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
Chinese Mandarin 目標 /目标, 目的
  • 目標 /目标 (mùbiāo)result one is attempting to achieve
  • 目的 (mùdì)result one is attempting to achieve
  • 球門 /球门 (qiúmén)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • 進球 /进球 (jìnqiú)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • 進球得分 /进球得分 (jìnqiú défēn)point(s) scored
  • 進球 /进球 (jìnqiú)to score a goal
Czech cíl, brána
  • cílresult one is attempting to achieve
  • bránain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • brankain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gól(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • branka(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • gólpoint(s) scored
  • brankapoint(s) scored
Danish mål, mål
  • målresult one is attempting to achieve
  • målin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • mål(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • målpoint(s) scored
Dutch doel, bedoeling
  • doelresult one is attempting to achieve
  • bedoelingresult one is attempting to achieve
  • objectiefresult one is attempting to achieve
  • oogmerkresult one is attempting to achieve
  • doelin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • goalin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • doelpunt(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • puntpoint(s) scored
  • doelpuntpoint(s) scored
Esperanto celo, golejo
  • celoresult one is attempting to achieve
  • golejoin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • golo(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
Estonian eesmärk, värav
  • eesmärkresult one is attempting to achieve
  • väravin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • väravpoint(s) scored
Finnish päämäärä, tavoite
  • päämääräresult one is attempting to achieve
  • tavoiteresult one is attempting to achieve
  • maaliresult one is attempting to achieve
  • maaliin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • maali(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • maalipoint(s) scored
French objectif, but
  • objectifresult one is attempting to achieve
  • butresult one is attempting to achieve
  • butin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • but(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • but (marqué)point(s) scored
  • marquer un butto score a goal
German Ziel, Tor
  • Zielresult one is attempting to achieve
  • Torin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • Tor(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • Torpoint(s) scored
  • ein Tor schießento score a goal
Greek σκοπός, επιδίωξη
  • σκοπός (skopós)result one is attempting to achieve
  • επιδίωξη (epidíoxi)result one is attempting to achieve
  • στόχος (stóchos)result one is attempting to achieve
  • τερματισμός (termatismós)result one is attempting to achieve
  • τέρμα (térma)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • τέρμα (térma)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • καλάθι (kaláthi)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • γκολ (gkol)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • πόντος (póntos)point(s) scored
Hebrew מַטָּרָה, שַׁעַר
  • מַטָּרָה (matará)result one is attempting to achieve
  • שַׁעַר (shá'ar)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • שַׁעַר (sha'ar)point(s) scored
Hindi ठिकाना, लक्ष्य
  • ठिकाना (ṭhikānā)result one is attempting to achieve
  • लक्ष्य (lakṣya)result one is attempting to achieve
  • मक़सद (maqsad)result one is attempting to achieve
  • उद्देश्य (uddeśya)result one is attempting to achieve
  • हदफ़ (hadaf)result one is attempting to achieve
  • निशाना (niśānā)result one is attempting to achieve
Hungarian cél, kapu
  • célresult one is attempting to achieve
  • kapuin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gól(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • gólpoint(s) scored
Icelandic markmið, mark
  • markmiðresult one is attempting to achieve
  • markin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • mark(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • markpoint(s) scored
  • skora markto score a goal
  • skorato score a goal
Indonesian tujuan, sasaran
  • tujuanresult one is attempting to achieve
  • sasaranresult one is attempting to achieve
  • cita-citaresult one is attempting to achieve
  • gawangin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
Irish sprioc, cúl
  • spriocresult one is attempting to achieve
  • cúlin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • báirein many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • cúl(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • báire(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • cúlpoint(s) scored
  • báirepoint(s) scored
Italian obiettivo, scopo
  • obiettivoresult one is attempting to achieve
  • scoporesult one is attempting to achieve
  • risultatoresult one is attempting to achieve
  • fineresult one is attempting to achieve
  • traguardoresult one is attempting to achieve
  • portain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • retein many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • rete(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • goal(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
  • retepoint(s) scored
Japanese 目標, 目的
  • 目標 (mokuhyō)result one is attempting to achieve
  • 目的 (mokuteki)result one is attempting to achieve
  • ゴール (gōru)result one is attempting to achieve
  • ゴール (gōru)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • ゴール (gōru)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • ゴール (gōru)point(s) scored
  • ゴールを決める (gōru o kimeru)to score a goal
Korean 목표, 목적
  • 목표 (mokpyo)result one is attempting to achieve
  • 목적 (mokjeok)result one is attempting to achieve
  • 골 (gol)result one is attempting to achieve
  • 골 (gol)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • 골 (gol)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • 골을 넣다 (goreul neota)to score a goal
Latvian mērķis, vārti
  • mērķisresult one is attempting to achieve
  • vārtiin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
Lithuanian tikslas, vartai
  • tikslasresult one is attempting to achieve
  • vartaiin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
Malay tujuan
  • tujuanresult one is attempting to achieve
Māori hemonga, whāinga
  • hemongaresult one is attempting to achieve
  • whāingaresult one is attempting to achieve
  • kōrāpoint(s) scored
Norwegian Bokmål målsetting, formål
  • målsettingresult one is attempting to achieve
  • formålresult one is attempting to achieve
  • siktemålresult one is attempting to achieve
  • målresult one is attempting to achieve
  • målin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • mål(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • målpoint(s) scored
Persian گل کردن
  • گل کردن (gol kardan)to score a goal
Polish cel, bramka
  • celresult one is attempting to achieve
  • bramkain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
Portuguese meta, objetivo
  • metaresult one is attempting to achieve
  • objetivoresult one is attempting to achieve
  • golin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • balizain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golo(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
  • golopoint(s) scored
Romanian scop, obiectiv
  • scopresult one is attempting to achieve
  • obiectivresult one is attempting to achieve
  • poartăin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
Russian цель, воро́та
  • цель (celʹ)result one is attempting to achieve
  • воро́та (voróta)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • гол (gol)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • гол (gol)point(s) scored
  • забива́ть гол (zabivátʹ gol)to score a goal
  • заби́ть гол (zabítʹ gol)to score a goal
Scottish Gaelic bàir, tadhal
  • bàirin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • tadhal(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • tadhalpoint(s) scored
Slovak cieľ, bránka
  • cieľresult one is attempting to achieve
  • bránkain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gól(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • gólpoint(s) scored
Spanish meta, portería
  • metaresult one is attempting to achieve
  • porteríain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • arcoin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • metain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • puertain many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
Swahili bao, goli
  • baoin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • goliin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • bao(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • goli(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • baopoint(s) scored
Swedish mål, mål
  • målresult one is attempting to achieve
  • målin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • mål(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • målpoint(s) scored
Thai เป้าหมาย, ประตู
  • เป้าหมาย (bpâo-mǎai)result one is attempting to achieve
  • ประตู (bprà-dtuu)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • แต้ม (dtɛ̂ɛm)point(s) scored
Turkish amaç, hedef
  • amaçresult one is attempting to achieve
  • hedefresult one is attempting to achieve
  • maksatresult one is attempting to achieve
  • garazresult one is attempting to achieve
  • kalein many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gol(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • golpoint(s) scored
Ukrainian мета́, ціль
  • мета́ (metá)result one is attempting to achieve
  • ціль (cilʹ)result one is attempting to achieve
  • воро́та (voróta)in many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • гол (hol)(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • гол (hol)point(s) scored
Urdu مَقْصَد, ہَدَف
  • مَقْصَد (maqsad)result one is attempting to achieve
  • ہَدَف (hadaf)result one is attempting to achieve
Vietnamese mục tiêu, mục đích
  • mục tiêuresult one is attempting to achieve
  • mục đíchresult one is attempting to achieve
  • cầu mônin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • gônin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • khung thànhin many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object
  • ghi bàn(sport) act of placing the object into the goal
  • bànpoint(s) scored
  • bàn thắngpoint(s) scored
Yiddish ציל
  • ציל (tsil)result one is attempting to achieve

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with goal

controlwholerolesoulrolltollpollbowlconsolesolecoalcoleJoelPowellscrollNicolesolpatrolmolenrollnoelSeouloleLowell
All rhymes →

Anagrams

OlgaLagogolagaolGalo
Cite this entry
APA

goal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/goal

MLA

“goal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/goal. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “goal,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/goal.

Source: goal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.