zielen

Definition & meaning

Zielen means to aim or to point at a target. It can describe directing a weapon, object, or gaze toward something.

It also means to be aimed at or to be intended to achieve a particular result, especially in the construction auf etwas zielen (“to aim at something” or “to seek to achieve something”).

Grammar & Word origin

Zielen is a regular verb. Its principal forms are zielte (simple past) and gezielt (past participle); it forms compound tenses with haben. It is commonly used with auf and the accusative case: auf ein Ziel zielen (“to aim at a target”).

The verb is formed from the noun das Ziel (“target,” “goal”) and the verb ending -en.

Synonyms & antonyms

There is no single antonym that applies in every context.

Synonyms:

• anvisieren ↗ — to aim at or take aim at something; often more specifically focused on selecting a target.
• visieren ↗ — to aim or sight along an instrument, such as a weapon or optical device.
• abzielen auf [?](vocabuo://word/abzielen auf) — to be intended to achieve a particular result; typically figurative.

Contextual opposites:

• verfehlen ↗ — to miss a target or fail to achieve an aim; describes the result rather than the act of aiming.
• danebenschießen ↗ — to shoot wide or miss; a more specific, informal opposite in shooting contexts.

Common phrases & collocations

• auf ein Ziel zielen [?](vocabuo://word/auf ein Ziel zielen) — to aim at a target.
• auf jemanden zielen [?](vocabuo://word/auf jemanden zielen) — to aim at someone.
• auf ein bestimmtes Ergebnis zielen [?](vocabuo://word/auf ein bestimmtes Ergebnis zielen) — to aim for a particular result.
• gezielt vorgehen [?](vocabuo://word/gezielt vorgehen) — to proceed in a deliberate, targeted way.