shot

1 of 3

noun

1
a
: an action of shooting
b
: a directed propelling of a missile
specifically : a directed discharge of a firearm
c(1)
: a stroke or throw in an attempt to score points in a game (such as tennis, pool, or basketball)
also : home run
(2)
: ability to shoot
has the best shot on the team
e
: a medical or narcotics injection
2
a
plural shot : something propelled by shooting
especially : small lead or steel pellets especially forming a charge for a shotgun
b
: a metal sphere of iron or brass that is heaved in the shot put
3
a
: the distance that a missile is or can be thrown
b
4
: a charge to be paid : scot
5
: one that shoots
especially : marksman
6
a
: attempt, try
give it a shot
c
: chance sense 4a
a shot at winning the prize
d
: a single appearance as an entertainer
did a guest shot for the program
7
: an effective remark
especially : swipe sense 2
a parting shot
8
a
: a single photographic exposure
especially : snapshot
b
: a single sequence of a motion picture or a television program shot by one camera without interruption
9
: a charge of explosives
10
a
: a small measure or serving (such as one ounce) of undiluted liquor or other beverage
vodka shots
a shot of espresso
b
: a small amount applied at one time : dose
a shot of fertilizer
a shot of humor
11
shot plural : sprinkles, jimmies

shot

2 of 3

past tense and past participle of shoot

shot

3 of 3

adjective

1
a
of a fabric : having contrasting and changeable color effects : iridescent
b
: suffused or streaked with a color
hair shot with gray
c
: infused or permeated with a quality or element
shot through with wit
2
: having the form of pellets resembling shot
3
: reduced to a ruined or useless state
his nerves are shot
Phrases
a shot
: for each one : apiece
like a shot
: very rapidly
shot in the arm shot in the dark
1
: a wild guess
2
: an attempt that has little chance of success

Examples of shot in a Sentence

Noun cannon operators often had to use several shots to figure out the range of their targets let's take another shot at the puzzle Adjective The tires on the car are shot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Boyce received the inbounds pass, drove toward the basket and put up an off-balance shot under intensive defensive pressure with four seconds left. Joseph D’hippolito, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 But Nasser, as well as pushing for efficiencies to improve affordability in his own industry, also fired a shot at other energy types and parallel products. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 The palace said it had been taken by Kate at Balmoral Castle in Scotland in the months before the Queen’s death, but the corrections have led to confusion over whether the image was in fact stitched together from various different shots. Rob Picheta, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 Oshoala took a one-time shot and blasted it upper-90, slamming the ball off the inside of the crossbar that narrowly found netting for Bay FC’s first-ever goal. Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 Fayetteville police received a call from Springdale police about 11:15 p.m. Feb. 15 reporting shots fired in the area of Powell Street in Springdale and Lakeview Drive in Fayetteville,according to police spokesman Sgt. Ron Wood, arkansasonline.com, 18 Mar. 2024 Her photo carousel featured a stunning shot of the couple holding hands on their wedding day, as well as casual pics of them on a plane together and excitedly posing in front of a billboard promoting her series Zoey 102. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024 There’s videos and pictures of me standing in video village, helping set up other shots, holding the script and switching some things around, all drenched in blood. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 Every shot of a socialite smirking over the rim of a cocktail glass plays like the perfect reaction GIF. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Each green has built-in pods that can track swathes of shot information, incorporating the PGA Tour’s ShotLink data. Jack Bantock, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 At this point, Trooper Godbout fired one shot striking Muller in the chest area. Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2024 Cut out doughnuts using a 2-inch doughnut or biscuit cutter for small doughnuts or a 4-inch cutter for large doughnuts; alternatively use a shot glass or a 1-inch round cutter to make the hole. Kimberly Winter Stern, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024 Gather your friends, spin the roulette wheel, and let the festivities begin as everyone takes their chances with the shot glass selection. Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023 This is a tequila meant to be sipped in a tumbler, not slurped down in a shot glass. Ron Hart, SPIN, 22 Nov. 2023 Indiana desperately needs another 3-point shooter, a shot creator, and assist machine in the backcourt, and Clark checks all of those boxes. Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2023 Place cloves or a whole bulb, that has started to sprout, in a clear glass container (like a jar, drinking glass, or shot glass) positioned upright and fill it with just enough warm water so that less than half the clove or bulb is covered. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023 This is important since the Skin Cancer Foundation notes that adults should be applying a roughly nickel-sized dollop of sunscreen to their face, and the American Academy of Dermatology advises adults to use a one-ounce amount (about the size of a shot glass) for the entire body. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 7 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English sceot, scot; akin to Old High German scuz, Old Norse skot shot, Old English scēotan to shoot — more at shoot

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shot was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shot

Cite this Entry

“Shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shot. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shot

1 of 3 noun
1
a
: an action of shooting
b
: an aimed discharge of a weapon (as a gun or cannon)
c
: a stroke or throw in a game
especially : an attempt at scoring
d
: an injection of something (as a medicine or vaccine) into the body
penicillin shots
2
a
plural shot : something sent by shooting
especially : small lead or steel pellets forming a charge for a shotgun
b
: a heavy metal ball thrown for distance in the shot put
3
: the flight of a missile or the distance it travels : range
within rifle shot
4
: a person who shoots
a good shot
5
a
: attempt entry 2 sense 1, try
take another shot at the puzzle
b
: chance
has a good shot at winning
6
b
: a single portion of a movie or a television program shot by one camera without stopping
7
a
: a small measure or amount of alcoholic liquor
b
: a small amount applied at one time : dose

shot

2 of 3

past and past participle of shoot

shot

3 of 3 adjective
1
: marked or streaked with a different color
blue shot with silver
hair shot with gray
2
: brought to a state of ruin or uselessness
my nerves were shot
the tires are shot

Medical Definition

shot

1 of 2 noun
: an injection of a drug, immunizing substance, nutrient, or medicament
a tetanus shot
see booster shot, flu shot

shot

2 of 2

past and past part of shoot

More from Merriam-Webster on shot

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