aiming high

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aiming high" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the idea of setting ambitious goals or striving for excellence in various contexts, such as personal aspirations or professional objectives. Example: "In her career, she has always been aiming high, seeking out challenging projects that push her limits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Aiming high, then.

Independent

Talk about aiming high!

Independent

Ilo is aiming high.

The New York Times - Arts

There's nothing wrong with aiming high".

Independent

Atelier and Mr. Kreuther are aiming high.

The New York Times - Food

We're not aiming high enough in the absurdity stakes".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But they do think they should be aiming high.

The Guardian - Opinion

Study this car, and you know Hyundai is aiming high.

The New York Times

But aiming high can only be applauded to a point.

The Guardian - Film

The automakers can perhaps be forgiven for aiming high.

The New York Times

My ears perked up: So Perry was aiming high.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific outcomes to ground the ambition, for example: "Aiming high for the next quarter's revenue targets."

Common error

Do not add redundant adverbs like "aiming high upwards" or "aiming highly high". The phrase "aiming high" is already a complete idiomatic unit; adding directional adverbs makes the sentence clunky and grammatically repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aiming high" functions as a verb phrase typically used in the continuous tense. As noted in Ludwig, it consists of the present participle "aiming" followed by the flat adverb "high". It often acts as a predicate or a gerund phrase describing an attitude or strategy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Social Media

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "aiming high" is a versatile and linguistically sound idiom used to describe the pursuit of ambitious goals. Data from Ludwig shows it is a very common expression favored by elite publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian. Whether you are describing a sports team's aspirations, a corporate strategy, or personal growth, "aiming high" communicates a clear sense of purpose and drive. Ludwig AI highlights that while synonyms like "<a href="/s/setting+lofty+goals" target="_blank" rel="alternative">setting lofty goals" can offer more formality, "aiming high" remains the most natural choice for general use. It is grammatically correct and widely recognized across all English-speaking regions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

setting lofty goals

provides a more formal tone often used in professional or academic development contexts

setting sights high

focuses on the visual aspect of choosing a distant or difficult target

striving for excellence

emphasizes the quality of the effort rather than just the height of the target

aiming for the top

suggests a competitive environment or hierarchical achievement

thinking big

a more idiomatic and casual version often associated with entrepreneurship

pursuing ambitious targets

uses business-oriented terminology suitable for reports or corporate strategy

reaching for the stars

uses a more metaphorical and inspirational tone

aspiring to greatness

shifts the focus to personal character and long-term legacy

targeting high results

emphasizes the measurable outcomes of the ambition

shooting for the moon

implies a high-risk, high-reward scenario

FAQs

How to use "aiming high" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person's or organization's goals, such as: "The startup is <a href="/s/aiming+high" target="_blank" rel="alternative">aiming high by attempting to disrupt a multi-billion dollar industry."

What can I say instead of "aiming high"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "<a href="/s/setting+lofty+goals" target="_blank" rel="alternative">setting lofty goals", "<a href="/s/thinking+big" target="_blank" rel="alternative">thinking big", or "<a href="/s/striving+for+excellence" target="_blank" rel="alternative">striving for excellence".

Is it "aiming high" or "aiming highly"?

The correct idiom is "aiming high". While "highly" is an adverb, in this specific set phrase, "high" functions as a flat adverb and is the standard usage in English.

What's the difference between "aiming high" and "thinking big"?

While "<a href="/s/thinking+big" target="_blank" rel="alternative">thinking big" refers to the scale of one's ideas or vision, "aiming high" specifically refers to the act of setting difficult or ambitious objectives to achieve.