anvisieren

Anvisieren is a German verb meaning to aim at or to target. It primarily refers to aligning the sights of a weapon with a target, but it is also used in non-technical contexts to designate or focus on a target or objective. The verb is formed from visieren, the act of sighting, with the prefix an- indicating bringing something into the sights. The related noun Visier denotes the sighting device.

In usage, anvisieren is commonly employed in both literal and figurative senses. In the firearm sense, present tense forms are typically separated: er visiert das Ziel an, ich visiere das Ziel an. The verb is conjugated as a regular -ieren verb, and the perfect tense is hat anvisiert. In everyday speech one might hear or write: Der Soldat visiert das Ziel an; Sie visiert eine neue Strategie an.

Figurative uses are common, especially in planning or strategy contexts. One can anvisieren, ein Ziel, eine Reform oder eine Strategie, meaning to set as a target or to aim for such a goal. In this sense it can be synonymous with zielen auf or anpeilen, though with a stronger emphasis on defining a specific objective to be pursued.

Etymology and related terms: Anvisieren combines the prefix an- with visieren (to sight). Related concepts include das Visier (the sighting device), auf etwas abzielen, zielen, and ins Visier nehmen (to take something into one’s sights). The expression conveys both a physical aiming action and a figurative act of targeting a goal.