Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of goal
"The team celebrated after finally scoring three goals during the final minutes of the match."
In plain English: Goals are specific things you want to achieve or reach in the future.
"The team worked hard to achieve their goals for the season."
Usage: Use goals to refer to specific targets or achievements you aim to reach, such as career milestones or fitness objectives. Avoid confusing this with the sports term unless discussing scoring points in a game.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of goal
"He goals at the net every time he gets a chance to score."
In plain English: To set goals means to decide exactly what you want to achieve and plan how to get there.
"We hope to reach our financial goals by next year."
Usage: The word "goal" is not used as a verb in standard English; it is strictly a noun referring to an objective or target. When you need a verb meaning to aim for something, use the correct term "goal" only as a noun and pair it with verbs like "set," "reach," or "score."
The internet slang meaning of goals likely originated from the popular hashtag #goals used to describe admirable achievements or behaviors. This usage draws a parallel to similar phrases like "squad goal," which refer to actions that make an entire group feel proud.