Abzuzielen

Abzuzielen is a German verb used in formal planning and policy discourse to denote the act of identifying and targeting specific goals within a program, project, or strategy. The expression is formed from the verb zielen (to aim) with the prefix ab-, signaling direction toward defined outcomes. It is closely related to the more common auf etwas abzielen (to aim at something) and to infinitive constructions that indicate goal-oriented action.

Usage and nuance: abzuzielen conveys deliberate alignment of resources, actions, and metrics with predefined objectives. It is typically found in policy papers, corporate strategy documents, and grant applications, where the emphasis is on purposeful focus and measurable aims rather than general effort. The term often appears in contexts that require explicit articulation of targets and how they will be pursued.

Grammatical notes: abzuzielen functions as an infinitive form used with appropriate auxiliaries or with prepositional phrases. Examples include sentences such as: Die Strategie sieht vor, mehrere Ziele abzuzielen, oder Die Verordnung bestimmt, welche Ziele abzuzielen sind. The construction can appear in clauses introduced by um, damit, or darauf, depending on the surrounding syntax and the desired emphasis.

See also: Zielsetzung, Zielplanung, Policy-making, German infinitive constructions.