1. (

• goal ,
• end ,

) the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it; "the ends justify the means" ;

2. (

• finish ,
• destination ,
• goal

) the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey); "a crowd assembled at the finish"; "he was nearly exhausted as their destination came into view" ;

3. (

• goal

) game equipment consisting of the place toward which players of a game try to advance a ball or puck in order to score points ;

4. (

• goal

) a successful attempt at scoring; "the winning goal came with less than a minute left to play" ;