abzielen

Abzielen is a German verb meaning to aim at, to target, or to aim for a particular result. It is used to describe deliberate focus on a target, audience, or objective, and appears in contexts such as marketing, policy planning, sports, and general strategic discussion.

The term combines the prefix ab- with the verb zielen (to aim). In ordinary use, it is typically formed with the preposition auf to indicate the target: auf etwas abzielen or zielen auf etwas. A related construction is zielen darauf ab, meaning “aims to” or “is intended to.” The expression can appear in both descriptive and prescriptive sentences, often in formal or bureaucratic language.

Examples

- Die Kampagne zielt auf jüngere Konsumenten ab. (The campaign targets younger consumers.)

- Der Plan zielt darauf ab, die Emissionen zu senken. (The plan aims to reduce emissions.)

- Der Athlet zielt aufs Tor ab. (The athlete aims at the goal/goal.)

Nuance and usage

Abzielen conveys intentional targeting with a clear objective. It is common in business, politics, and media, where describing strategic aims is routine. In everyday language, speakers may prefer synonyms such as anvisieren or sich auf etwas konzentrieren, depending on nuance and style.

See also

Ziel, Zielgruppe, Zielsetzung, zielen, auf etwas abzielen, darauf abzielen.