goal

SayGOHL/ɡoʊl/UK/ɡəʊl/

5 meanings of goal

1
aimnouncountable
Something you want to do or reach in the future.
Like a finish line you are trying to reach.
Her main goal this year is to learn to swim.
We set a goal to save money for a trip.
UsageYou set and reach a goal. Say my goal is to + verb.
Similaraim, objective, target, ambition, purpose
Note
2
point scorednouncountable
When a player gets the ball or puck into the goal, or the point they win for doing it.
Like earning a point for landing the ball in the basket.
She scored the winning goal in the last minute.
Our team needs one more goal to tie the game.
UsagePlayers score a goal.
3
netnouncountable
The net or area where players try to put a ball, puck, or other object to score.
Like a basket you aim the ball at to score.
The keeper stood in front of the goal.
He kicked the ball straight into the goal.
UsageA goalkeeper plays in goal (no the).
Similarnet
Note

Less common meanings

4
scoreverbintransitive
To score by getting the ball into the goal.
Like sinking a basket to add to your score.
He managed to goal twice in the second half.
If we goal now, we level the match.
UsageIn most sports people say score a goal instead.
Similarscore
Note
5
noun
In grammar, the word or phrase that something is done to in a sentence.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Middle English gol, meaning 'boundary' or 'limit', which may have come from an Old English word for an obstacle or marker. That Old English word is not found in old writings.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Goal comes from Middle English gol, meaning boundary or limit. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English ancestor *gāl is assumed rather than attested; this derivation should be presented as a possibility. en.wiktionary.org