goals

IPA/ɡəʊl/
KK[ɡˈolz]IPA/ɡoʊl/

goals — noun

  • goalssingular
  • goalsesplural

1. the frame with two posts and a net that players try to hit with the ball to earn

1.nounA2
Definition

the frame with two posts and a net that players try to hit with the ball to earn points in games like football, hockey, or basketball.

Example

Meera kicked the ball toward the goal, but the wind pushed it sideways.

toward the goal [direction]

Zuri stood between the goal posts, ready to catch any shot that came near.

goal posts [compound noun]

Common collocations
  • aim for the goal
  • shoot at the goal
  • goal area
  • goal line
  • goal post
Synonyms
  • net

    informal; focuses on the netting part of the goal structure ('He put the ball in the net').

  • goal mouth

    the area directly in front of the goal ('The ball sat in the goal mouth').

Grammar Patterns

the goal [of a sport]

a goal with a net

Usage Note

Frequently used in compound nouns such as 'goal area,' 'goal line,' and 'goal post.'

Common Mistakes

He aimed for the door of the goal.
He aimed for the goal.
In sports, simply say 'goal,' not 'door of the goal.'

2. a point that a player or team earns when the ball goes into the goal area during

2.nounA1
Definition

a point that a player or team earns when the ball goes into the goal area during a game.

Example

Kian scored the winning goal in the final minute of the match.

score the winning goal

Ishaan celebrated his first goal of the season with his teammates.

Common collocations
  • score a goal
  • concede a goal
  • equalizing goal
  • winning goal
  • own goal
Synonyms
  • point

    more general; used across many sports like basketball or rugby ('The team earned twelve points').

  • score

    can refer to the act or the number itself ('The final score was 3–1').

Grammar Patterns

score a goal

concede a goal

Usage Note

Countable — you can have one goal, two goals, or many goals. Use 'score a goal' for earning a point, not 'make a goal.'

Common Mistakes

The team made three goals in the first half.
The team scored three goals in the first half.
The correct verb with 'goal' is 'score,' not 'make.'

3. the position of the player whose job is to stop the opposing team from scoring b

3.nounB1
Definition

the position of the player whose job is to stop the opposing team from scoring by standing in front of the goal.

Example

Niran has been playing in goal for the school team since last year.

play in goal [fixed phrase]

Manuela trains every morning to improve her reflexes in goal.

Common collocations
  • in goal
  • play in goal
  • stand in goal
Synonyms
  • goalkeeper

    refers to the person rather than the position ('She is the best goalkeeper in the league').

  • goalie

    informal; short form of goalkeeper ('The goalie made a great save').

Grammar Patterns

in goal

play in goal

Usage Note

Used without an article in the fixed phrase 'in goal.' Do not say 'in the goal' for this meaning — that would refer to the physical structure instead.

Common Mistakes

He is playing in the goal for our team.
He is playing in goal for our team.
Omit the article when referring to the goalkeeper position.

4. the activity of playing as the goalkeeper to protect the goal during a sports ma

4.nounB2
Definition

the activity of playing as the goalkeeper to protect the goal during a sports match.

Example

Meera agreed to keep goal for the team when their usual goalie fell ill.

keep goal [fixed phrase]

Kian kept goal for ninety minutes and did not let in a single shot.

Common collocations
  • keep goal
  • keep goal for [a team]
Synonyms
  • goalkeeping

    the sport-specific term for the activity ('He is taking goalkeeping lessons').

  • tend the goal

    less common, more formal ('She tends the goal for the national team').

Grammar Patterns

keep goal

Usage Note

Frequently used in the phrase 'keep goal.' Unlike sense 3 ('in goal'), this sense emphasizes the action of goalkeeping rather than the position itself.

Common Mistakes

The coach asked him to keep the goal.
The coach asked him to keep goal.
The phrase is 'keep goal' without an article.

5. a situation in which the goal area has no goalkeeper or defenders, giving the at

5.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which the goal area has no goalkeeper or defenders, giving the attacking player a clear chance to score.

Example

Ishaan shot at the empty goal but the ball bounced off the post.

empty goal [collocation]

Sora could not believe the striker missed such an open goal from two metres away.

open goal [collocation]

Common collocations
  • empty goal
  • open goal
  • shoot at an empty goal
Synonyms
  • empty net

    common in ice hockey ('They scored into the empty net').

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

an empty goal

an open goal

Usage Note

Usually called an 'empty goal' or 'open goal.' The phrase 'open goal' is also used metaphorically outside sports, meaning an easy opportunity.

6. something that a person wants to achieve through effort and careful planning, su

6.nounA2
Definition

something that a person wants to achieve through effort and careful planning, such as a personal ambition, a career target, or a learning aim.

Example

Mira set herself a goal of reading twenty books before the summer ends.

goal of + gerund

Owen's main goal this year is to improve his Mandarin speaking skills.

Common collocations
  • set a goal
  • achieve a goal
  • reach a goal
  • work toward a goal
  • career goal
  • life goal
  • short-term goal
  • long-term goal
Synonyms
  • aim

    similar but slightly more abstract; focuses on general direction rather than a specific endpoint ('Her aim is to help people').

  • objective

    more formal, used in business or military contexts ('The company's main objective is to reduce costs').

  • target

    emphasizes measurability, often a specific number or deadline ('Our sales target is five million dollars').

  • purpose

    focuses on the reason behind an action rather than the endpoint ('The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget').

Grammar Patterns

set a goal

achieve a goal

reach a goal

goal of [something]

Usage Note

Often followed by 'of' and a gerund ('the goal of becoming…') or by 'to' and an infinitive ('My goal is to…'). In business or academic settings, 'objective' or 'target' are more formal alternatives.

Common Mistakes

My goal is becoming a doctor.
My goal is to become a doctor.
After 'goal is,' use the infinitive form, not a gerund.
I achieved the goal to run a marathon.
I achieved my goal of running a marathon.
Use 'goal of + gerund' when stating what the goal involves.

7. a popular online expression that people use to show they admire someone else's l

7.nounB2
Definition

a popular online expression that people use to show they admire someone else's life, appearance, relationship, or achievement and would like the same for themselves.

Example

Meera posted a photo of her aunt's garden with the caption 'Garden goals.'

[noun] goals [social media pattern]

Zuri saw a video of a couple dancing and commented 'Relationship goals.'

Common collocations
  • relationship goals
  • career goals
  • fitness goals
  • vacation goals
  • friendship goals
  • #goals
Synonyms
  • aspirational

    an adjective describing something worth aspiring to, more formal ('Her lifestyle is so aspirational').

Grammar Patterns

[noun] goals

#goals

Usage Note

Always used in the plural form 'goals' (never 'goal' for this meaning). Extremely informal — suitable for social media posts, captions, and casual conversation. Often written as a compound: 'relationship goals,' 'fitness goals,' or combined into a hashtag '#goals.'

Common Mistakes

She is my relationship goal.
They are relationship goals.
Use the plural 'goals' even when referring to one person or couple.

8. the line or point at which a race, run, or journey officially finishes.

8.nounB1
Definition

the line or point at which a race, run, or journey officially finishes.

Example

Ishaan reached the goal of the marathon after running for over four hours.

cross the goal [of a race]

Kian's legs were aching badly when he finally reached the goal of the race.

Common collocations
  • the goal of a race
  • reach the goal
  • cross the goal
Synonyms
  • finish line

    the standard term in American English ('She was first to cross the finish line').

  • finishing post

    used in horse racing and running events ('The horse passed the finishing post').

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the goal of a race

reach the goal

cross the goal

Usage Note

More common in British English. In American English, 'finish line' is the usual term for the end of a race.

Common Mistakes

She passed the goal line of the race.
She crossed the goal of the race.
'Goal line' belongs to sports like football; 'goal' or 'finish line' is used for races.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/6

For the sense of something you want to achieve (sense 6), 'goal,' 'aim,' 'objective,' 'target,' and 'purpose' all relate to desired outcomes but differ in nuance. 'Goal' is the most general and personal word — you set life goals, fitness goals, or career goals. 'Aim' is slightly more abstract and directional, focusing on general effort rather than a specific endpoint ('Her main aim is to reduce poverty'). 'Objective' is more formal and concrete, common in business and academic settings ('The objective of the experiment was to test the theory'). 'Target' is the most measurable, often tied to a number or a deadline ('We met our sales target of one million units'). 'Purpose' is different — it explains why you do something rather than what you want to achieve ('The purpose of the meeting was to discuss safety'). In daily conversation, 'goal' is the most natural choice. For example: 'My goal is to learn Japanese; my target is to pass the N3 exam by December; the objective of my study plan is balanced skill development.'

aim ↗objective ↗target ↗purpose ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • set goals
  • achieve goals
  • work toward goals

Prepositions

  • toward a goal / toward goals
  • with goals

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The origin of 'goal' is uncertain. It may come from an old English word meaning 'boundary' or 'limit.' By the 1500s, it was used in sports for the posts or area where players try to score. Around the 1600s, the word gained the broader meaning of 'something you aim for in life,' extending the idea of reaching a physical target to reaching a personal ambition.

First known use

1531

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 3a