Standard Lemma guide

aimless

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈeɪm.ləs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪmləs
  • CMU ARPABET: EY1 M L AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Without aim, purpose, or direction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • an aimless life

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

aimlessly drifting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: adrift(p), afloat(p), directionless, planless, rudderless, undirected

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

continually changing especially as from one abode or occupation to another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a drifting double-dealer
  • the floating population
  • vagrant hippies of the sixties

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drifting, floating, vagabond, vagrant

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English aim Proto-Indo-European *lewh1- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English aimless From aim + -less.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: безцелен (bezcelen) — without aim
  • Czech: bezcílný — without aim
  • Dutch: doelloos — without aim
  • Esperanto: sencela — without aim
  • Estonian: sihitu — without aim
  • Finnish: suunnaton — without aim
  • German: planlos — without aim
  • German: ziellos — without aim
  • Ancient Greek: ἄστοχος (ástokhos) — without aim
  • Ancient Greek: εἰκαῖος (eikaîos) — without aim
  • Irish: fánach — without aim
  • Māori: pakoke — without aim
  • Māori: paoke — without aim
  • Māori: makihoi — without aim
  • Odia: ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟହୀନ (lakṣyahina) — without aim
  • Polish: bezcelowy — without aim
  • Portuguese: sem rumo — without aim
  • Romanian: fără scop — without aim
  • Romanian: fără plan — without aim
  • Russian: бесце́льный (bescélʹnyj) — without aim
  • Spanish: sin rumbo — without aim
  • Spanish: sin objeto — without aim
  • Spanish: sin objetivo — without aim
  • Spanish: sin propósito — without aim
  • Spanish: sin rumbo fijo — without aim
  • Telugu: అగమ్యగోచరము (agamyagōcaramu) — without aim
  • Turkish: amaçsız — without aim
  • Uzbek: maqsadsiz — without aim