To strike or make contact with something; to hit (e.g., hit a target).
彼はボールを的に当てた。
He hit the ball on the target.
矢が的に当たって赤い丸に刺さった。
The arrow hit the target and stuck in the red circle.
ゴルフで旗の近くにボールを当てるのは難しい。
It's hard to hit the ball close to the flag in golf.
To expose something to light, heat, etc.; to put (something) in the sun or under a heat source.
洗濯物を午後は外に当てて乾かした。
I put the laundry out in the afternoon in the sun to dry it.
薬は直射日光に当てないでください。
Do not expose the medicine to direct sunlight.
布を火に当てて消毒した。
I sterilized the cloth by holding it near the fire.
To apply or place something onto something else (e.g., apply a patch, put a hand against something); to press or place against.
傷口に消毒ガーゼを当てて、テープで固定した。
I placed a sterilized gauze on the wound and fixed it with tape.
手を壁に当てて体のバランスを取った。
I put my hand against the wall to steady myself.
日焼け止めを顔に当ててから外に出た。
I applied sunscreen to my face before going outside.
To assign or allot (a role, score, etc.); to call on someone (e.g., in class) to answer or perform.
先生は当番に田中さんを当てた。
The teacher assigned Tanaka to be on duty.
会議で彼に発表の役を当てられた。
He was given the role of presenting at the meeting.
授業中、先生が急に私を当てたので驚いた。
During class the teacher suddenly called on me, so I was surprised.
To guess (an answer); to make a correct guess (e.g., in quizzes, guessing games).
彼女はクイズで正解を当てた。
She guessed the correct answer on the quiz.
番号を当ててください。3つのうちどれか当てるつもりで選んだ。
Try to guess the number. I chose one hoping to get one of the three right.
彼は今日の天気を見事に当てた。
He accurately guessed today's weather.
To win (e.g., the lottery); to hit the jackpot or achieve a successful outcome in a gamble or contest.
彼は宝くじで一等を当てたと聞いた。
I heard he won the first prize in the lottery.
昨夜のくじで二万円を当てた。
I won 20,000 yen in last night's raffle.
偶然の賭けがうまくいって、大きく当てた。
A random bet paid off and I won big.