goal
gb/ɡˈoʊl/ us/ɡˈoʊl/
A2
English
~ 1000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
An aim or desired result
Something you want to do or get.
Usage pattern:
to have/set/reach/achieve [a goal]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'goal' with 'purpose' or 'reason', but 'goal' usually refers to a specific result you want to achieve, not the reason for doing something.
Synonyms
aim (Slightly more formal; often used for intentions or purposes.)
|
objective (More formal and often used in business or planning contexts.)
Antonyms
failure (The state of not achieving the intended result.)
Collocations
set a goal
|achieve a goal
|reach a goal
|long-term goal
|main goal
Themes
personal development
|sports
|business
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- Her main goal this year is to learn Spanish.
- We set a goal to reduce waste by 20%.
- He finally reached his goal of running a marathon.
- The project failed to meet its goals.
- Having clear goals can help you stay motivated.
Learner examples
- My goal is to read one book every month.
- He has a goal to travel to Japan.
- We have a big goal for our team.
- Her goal is to be a doctor.
Noun
A2
entity
2
A point scored in certain sports
When you put the ball into the other team's net and score points.
Usage pattern:
to score [a goal]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'goal' (the score) with 'goalpost' (the physical structure).
Synonyms
score (General term for gaining points, not limited to goals.)
Antonyms
miss (Failing to score when attempting a goal.)
Collocations
score a goal
|concede a goal
|winning goal
|own goal
Themes
sports
Examples
- He scored the winning goal in the last minute.
- The team celebrated after their first goal.
- They conceded two goals in the first half.
- She kicked the ball straight into the goal.
- The goalkeeper saved three goals during the match.
Learner examples
- He scored a goal in the game.
- They want to make many goals.
- She ran fast and made a goal.
- The team got two goals today.
Noun
B1
entity
3
The net or posts where points are scored
The net or space where you must put the ball to get points in some games.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the idea of an aim or target, especially in sports discussions.
Synonyms
net (Informal term often used in soccer and hockey for the scoring structure.)
Collocations
defend the goal
|stand in goal
|goal area
Themes
sports
Examples
- The goalkeeper stood in front of the goal.
- They painted new lines around the goal area.
- He hit the post instead of sending the ball into the goal.
- Spectators cheered as the ball flew into the empty goal.
Learner examples
- The ball went into the goal.
- He stands in front of the goal.
- The goal is big and has a net.
- She kicked the ball toward the goal.
Grammar
Dictionary form
goal
IPA
GB/ɡˈoʊl/
US/ɡˈoʊl/
Syllables & stress
goal (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (goal)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: goal
- Plural: goals
Word family
Forms
goals
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
goalless
adjective
Expressions
own goal
1/ˈoʊn ɡˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
A point scored against your own team by mistake
When you accidentally put the ball into your own team's net and give points to the other team.
Examples
- He was embarrassed after scoring an own goal.
- The match changed when they gave away an own goal.
reach your goal
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ jˈʊɹ ɡˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
To achieve something you planned for
To do something you wanted and planned for.
Examples
- After years of study, she reached her goal of becoming a doctor.
- He worked hard and finally reached his goals.
score a goal
1/skˈɔɹ ə ɡˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
To successfully send a ball/puck into opponent's net
To get a point by putting the ball into the other team's net in a game.
Examples
- She scored a goal in the first half.
- They need to score one more goal to win.
set a goal
1/sˈɛt ə ɡˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
To decide on something to achieve later
To choose something you want to do or get later.
Examples
- I set a goal to run 5 km every week.
- We should set clear goals for this project.