shit

1 of 2

noun

ˈshit How to pronounce shit (audio)
interjectionally also
ˈshē-ət How to pronounce shit (audio)
plural shits
1
a
vulgar : bodily waste discharged through the anus : feces, excrement
b
vulgar : an act of defecation
usually used in the phrases take a shit and (British) have a shit
2
vulgar
a(1)
: nonsense, foolishness, crap
especially : trivial and usually boastful or inaccurate talk
Don't give me that shit!
Why are you telling me this shit?
He's full of shit [=he is lying]
Just cut the shit [=stop boasting, lying, etc.]
(2)
: teasing or taunting comments
One time I chartered a Lear jet … and for weeks I got a lot of shit about that from the band.Don Henley
"These are guys who make a career out of stealing clients," he [Rick Yorn] says. … "That's all Mike did. I give him shit about it all the time. …"Kim Masters
(3)
: bad or unfair behavior or treatment
I'm tired of putting up with their shit.
She doesn't take shit from anyone.
Do what I say, and don't give me any shit.
b(1)
: something of little value or poor quality
a bunch of cheap, useless shit
We need to get rid of all that shit [=junk] in the basement.
She treats him like shit.
My car is a real piece of shit.
(2)
: stuff
He left all of his shit lying around the living room.
c(1)
: a bad, unpleasant, or dangerous situation or condition
I told you twice that you were deep in the shit and that whatever you said could put you in deeper.David Simon
That muck at low tide is worse than quicksand, and I was knee-deep … before I realized the shit I was in.Corwin Ericson
(2)
: something that causes a chaotic, controversial, or dangerous situation
usually used in phrases like the shit hits the fan, the shit hit the fan, and when the shit hits the fan
He dedicates a song about the end of the world to his son—"a kind of message in a bottle in case the shit hits the fan."Carl Swanson
… he packed up his office before the shit hit the fan.Libby Bakalar
3
vulgar : any of several intoxicating or narcotic drugs
especially : heroin
4
vulgar : a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : damn sense 2
I don't give a shit what they think of me.
5
vulgar : a worthless, offensive, or detestable person
He's such a (little) shit! = He's such a piece of shit!
6
vulgar
a
used as an interjection
Shit! That really hurt!
Oh, shit. Here she comes.
Well, shit. I guess we have to start over.
b
used as an intensive usually with the
You scared the shit out of me!
They threatened to beat/kick the (living) shit out of him.
7
vulgar
a
: someone or something that is excellent and exemplary
used with the
I think she's the shit. I want to keep my name largely because it's hers.Marjorie Ingall
see also hot shit
b
: something that is valuable or worthwhile
used in negative constructions
But unfortunately I still believe that they don't know shit.Mark Kurlansky
"People would say we learned our lesson after World War II. Turns out we didn't learn shit."Taika Waititi
But what kills me more than anything is they usually pick … the ones who don't have shit going for them.Terry McMillan

see also get one's shit together, hot shit, in deep shit, like shit, no shit, pull one's shit together, shit fit, shit happens, shit list, shit show, shit storm, shit ton, tough shit

shit

2 of 2

verb

shit or shat ˈshat How to pronounce shit (audio) ; shitting

transitive verb

1
vulgar : to defecate in
2
slang, vulgar : to attempt to deceive : bullshit
Phrases
the shits
vulgar : diarrhea

Examples of shit in a Sentence

Noun Don't give me that shit! Why are you telling me this shit? That movie was total shit. There's always some shit going on.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English *shit, from Old English scite; akin to Old English -scītan to defecate

Verb

alteration of earlier shite, from Middle English shiten, from Old English -scītan; akin to Old High German scīzan to defecate and probably to Old English scēadan to separate — more at shed entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of shit was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near shit

Cite this Entry

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

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