bolt

Definition of boltnext
1
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

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2
3
4
as in to exclaim
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling bolted out the cuss word without thinking

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5
as in to inhale
to swallow or eat greedily the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bolt The police footage shows the man turning and bolting away from officers before quickly tripping over his own feet just a few steps past his car. Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026 But Justin Herbert is resting now that his Chargers are bolted into a wild-card slot. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026 Michigan, who is in need of an experienced head coach after Jim Harbaugh bolted the school for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers following the 2023 season, are getting one in Whittingham. Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025 Clients would bolt and the company would run out of money. Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
Verb
  • That’s why the team turned to look into how these insects transition between jumping, flapping, and gliding.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The new season of Prime Video's high-octane thriller jumps eight years ahead of the explosive Season 1 finale with Pine running a quiet surveillance unit in London under the alias Alex Goodwin, a low-level MI6 officer.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Clippers raced to a 14-5 lead, but the Knicks answered with eight straight points and the game was close for the first three quarters.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • In Altadena, employees with the small local water utilities raced across town protecting and fixing the water systems firefighters relied on.
    Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The new system could replace the Stinger missile, which can engage low-flying aircraft such as helicopters, jets during takeoff or landing, and some drones.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
  • With that possibility in mind, NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, agreed to fly one NASA astronaut aboard each Soyuz and one Russian cosmonaut aboard each Crew Dragon.
    William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Snoop Dogg exclaimed before a highlight reel of the best podcast nominees played.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Smith exclaimed of the snake, which Fry estimated was up to 17 feet long.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Football leans on tradition, providing convenient cover for the NFL’s lenient stance on smelling salts, ammonia crystals that players believe enhance performance when inhaled.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
  • When inhaled, these particles enter the lungs and can then pass into the bloodstream, increasing people’s risk of heart disease and decreasing lung function.
    Katelyn Richard, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • His arm was pinned into the back window of a car as a suspect sped away, dragging him across the pavement for about 100 yards, according to court documents.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
  • By speeding up the transit time of your stomach contents, fiber may reduce the amount of time that stomach acid can irritate your esophagus, Dilley added.
    Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • No one was injured, and the suspects fled before deputies arrived.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Other offenses include fleeing from police, escaping from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, theft, trespassing and giving police a false name.
    Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Davis stood up and shouted at referee Jeffrey Anderson.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The post even shouted out Moore, who was absent.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

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