Aim vs Intend vs Plan vs Strive vs Target

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Aim

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

Intend

Top 5,000 (fairly common) B1 verb

Plan

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Strive

Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Target

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

	Aim	Intend	Plan	Strive	Target
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/eɪm/","/eɪmz/","/eɪmd/","/ˈeɪmɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/eɪm/","/eɪmz/","/eɪmd/","/ˈeɪmɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈtend/","/ɪnˈtendz/","/ɪnˈtendɪd/","/ɪnˈtendɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈtend/","/ɪnˈtendz/","/ɪnˈtendɪd/","/ɪnˈtendɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/plæn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/plæn/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɑːɡɪt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɑːrɡɪt/"]/
Meaning	To plan or intend to reach a goal.	To plan or have a purpose in mind.	A way to organize things you want to do in the future.	To work hard to achieve something.	The goal or aim that you are trying to reach.
Example	I aim to finish my project by the end of the week.	I intend to finish my homework before dinner.	I have a plan for the weekend.	We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.	The target for this marketing campaign is young adults.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	B1	A1	C1	A2
Part of speech	verb	verb	noun	verb	noun
Collocations	at, for, aim high, clearly, directly, squarely, be aimed at, clearly, directly, squarely, be aimed at, directly, straight, carefully, at, for	fully, clearly, originally, for, fully, clearly, originally, for	ambitious, audacious, grand, have, come up with, create, be afoot, be aimed at something, call for something, plan for, plan to, go to plan, a plan of action, a plan of attack, ambitious, audacious, grand, have, come up with, create, be afoot, be aimed at something, call for something, plan for, plan to, go to plan, a plan of action, a plan of attack, street, town, seating, draw, file, show something, street, town, seating, draw, file, show something, street, town, seating, draw, file, show something, pension, retirement, savings, set up	hard, mightily, desperately, after, against, for	achievable, attainable, low, set, aim for, achieve, audience, demographic, group, above (a/​the) target, off target, on target, favourite/​favorite, frequent, important, choose, identify, pick, site, off target, on target, target for, put up, set up, aim at, area, range, practice, off target, on target, wide of the target
Antonyms	neglect, ignore, disregard	unintended, neglect, ignore	disorganize, neglect	relax, surrender, give up	dodge, avoid
Common mistakes	Confusing 'aim for' with 'aim at' when discussing targets., Using 'aim' without an object (e.g., 'I aim' should be followed by 'to do something')., Incorrectly conjugating 'aim' in different tenses.	Saying 'intend for' instead of 'intend to'., Using 'intended' incorrectly in past tense where present is needed., Confusing 'intend' with 'mean'.	Confused with 'strategy' - plan is more general., Overusing in casual conversation when simpler words like 'idea' would suffice., Using 'plan' with incorrect grammar, like saying 'plan to do' without the 'to.'	'Strive' is often confused with 'strive for'; remember it needs 'to' before a verb., Some learners use 'strived' as the past tense, but it's 'strove' or 'strived' depending on context., Mixing up 'strive' with 'thrive' due to similar sounds.	Using 'target' as a verb without an object., Confusing 'target' with 'goal' in specific contexts., Mistaking the pronunciation or spelling.
Usage notes	Use 'aim' when talking about goals or targets. It's suitable in both spoken and written English, but avoid using it in very casual conversations. In academic writing, 'aim' often refers to the purpose of a study.	Use 'intend' to express plans or goals, often in a sincere context. It may not be suitable for casual conversations or informal settings where simpler words like 'want' are preferred.	Use 'plan' when discussing future activities or intentions. It's appropriate in both casual and professional settings, but avoid using it in very formal contexts where specific terminology is preferred.	Use 'strive' in contexts where you want to emphasize effort towards a goal. It's appropriate in both formal and informal situations but may sound overly dramatic for casual conversations.	Use 'target' in both business and everyday contexts when discussing goals. Avoid using it in overly casual settings.

Frequently asked questions: Aim vs Intend vs Plan vs Strive vs Target

What's the difference between Aim, Intend, Plan, Strive, and Target?

Aim: To plan or intend to reach a goal. Intend: To plan or have a purpose in mind. Plan: A way to organize things you want to do in the future. Strive: To work hard to achieve something. Target: The goal or aim that you are trying to reach.

Which is more advanced: Aim, Intend, Plan, Strive, and Target?

Strive is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Aim, Intend, Plan, Strive, and Target the same CEFR level?

Aim: B1, Intend: B1, Plan: A1, Strive: C1, Target: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Aim, Intend, Plan, Strive, and Target?

Aim: verb, Intend: verb, Plan: noun, Strive: verb, Target: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Aim: I aim to finish my project by the end of the week. Intend: I intend to finish my homework before dinner. Plan: I have a plan for the weekend. Strive: We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. Target: The target for this marketing campaign is young adults.

Can I use Aim, Intend, Plan, Strive, and Target interchangeably?

Not always. Aim, Intend, Plan, Strive, and Target are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.