shoot

verb

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\ ˈshüt

shot\ ˈshät

\; shooting

Definition of shoot

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1a(1) : to eject or impel or cause to be ejected or impelled by a sudden release of tension (as of a bowstring or slingshot or by a flick of a finger) shoot an arrow shoot a spitball shoot a marble

(2) : to drive forth or cause to be driven forth by an explosion (as of a powder charge in a firearm or of ignited fuel in a rocket)

(3) : to drive forth or cause to be driven forth by a sudden release of gas or air shoot darts from a blowgun a steam catapult shoots planes from a carrier

(4) : to propel (something, such as a ball or puck) toward a goal by striking or pushing with part of the body (such as the hand or foot) or with an implement also : to score by so doing shoot the winning goal shoot a basket

(5) : to throw or cast off or out often with force shoot dice the horse shot his rider out of the saddle

b : to cause (something, such as a gun or bow) to propel a missile

c(1) : to utter (words or sounds) rapidly or suddenly or with force shoot out a stream of invective

(2) : to emit (light, flame, fumes, etc.) suddenly and rapidly

(3) : to send forth with suddenness or intensity shot a look of anger at them

d : to discharge, dump, or empty especially by overturning, upending, or directing into a slide

2 : to affect by shooting: such as

a : to strike with a missile especially from a bow or gun especially : to wound or kill with a missile discharged from a bow or firearm

b : to remove or destroy by use of firearms shot out the light also : wreck, explode

3a : to push or slide (something, such as the bolt of a door or lock) into or out of a fastening

b : to push or thrust forward : stick out toads shooting out their tongues

c : to put forth in growing

d : to place, send, or bring into position abruptly

4a(1) : to engage in (a sport or game or a portion of a game that involves shooting) : play shoot pool shoot a round of golf shoot craps

(2) : to achieve (a particular score) in a game that involves shooting shoot 80 in golf

b(1) : to place or offer (a bet) on the result of casting dice shoot $5

(2) : to use up by or as if by betting : exhaust shot his annual bonus on a shady deal

5a : to engage in the hunting and killing of (game birds or animals) with firearms especially as a sport shoot woodcock

b : to hunt over shoot a tract of woodland

6a : to cause to move suddenly or swiftly forward shot the car onto the highway

b : to send or carry quickly : dispatch shoot the letter on to me as soon as you receive it

7 : to variegate as if by sprinkling color in streaks, flecks, or patches

8 : to pass swiftly by, past, or along shooting rapids

9 : to plane (something, such as the edge of a board) straight or true

10a : set off, detonate, ignite shoot a charge of dynamite

b : to effect by blasting

11 : to determine the altitude of

12 : to take a picture or series of pictures or television images of : photograph, film

13a : to give an injection to

b : to inject (an illicit drug) especially into the bloodstream

intransitive verb

1a : to go or pass rapidly and precipitately sparks shooting all over his feet shot out from under him

b : to move ahead by force of momentum

c : to stream out suddenly : spurt

d : to dart in or as if in rays from a source of light

e : to dart with a piercing sensation pain shot up my arm

2a : to cause an engine or weapon to discharge a missile

b : to use a firearm or bow especially for sport (as in hunting)

3 : to propel a missile guns that shoot many miles

4 : protrude, project

5a : to grow or sprout by or as if by putting forth shoots

b : develop, mature

c : to spring or rise rapidly or suddenly —often used with up in a burst of growth he shot up to six feet tallprices shot up

6a : to propel an object (such as a ball) in a particular way

b : to drive the ball or puck toward a goal

7 : to cast dice

8 : to slide into or out of a fastening a bolt that shoots in either direction

9 : to record something (as on film or videotape) with a camera

10 : to begin to speak —usually used as an imperative OK, shoot, what do you have to say

shoot at or shoot for

: to aim at : strive for

shoot from the hip

: to act or speak hastily without consideration of the consequences

shoot one's bolt

: to exhaust one's capabilities and resources

shoot one's cuffs

: to tug one's shirt cuffs below those of one's coat

shoot oneself in the foot

: to act against one's own best interests

shoot the breeze

: to converse idly : gossip

shoot the shit

vulgar

: to shoot the breeze

shoot the works

1 : to venture all one's capital on one play

2 : to put forth all one's efforts

shoot

noun

Definition of shoot (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a sending out of new growth or the growth sent out: such as

a : a stem or branch with its leaves and appendages especially when not yet mature

b : offshoot

2a : an act of shooting (as with a bow or a firearm):

(1) : shot

(2) : the firing of a missile especially by artillery

b(1) : a hunting trip or party

(2) : the right to shoot game in a particular area or land over which it is held

c(1) : a shooting match skeet shoot

(2) : a round of shots in a shooting match

d : the action or an instance of shooting with a camera : a session or a series of sessions of photographing or filming a movie shoot

3a : a motion or movement of rapid thrusting: such as

(1) : a sudden or rapid advance

(2) : a momentary darting sensation : twinge

(3) : thrust sense 3b

(4) : the pace between strokes in rowing

b : a bar of rays : beam a shoot of sunlight

4 [probably by folk etymology from French chute — more at chute]

a : a rush of water down a steep or rapid

b : a place where a stream runs or descends swiftly

shoot

interjection

Definition of shoot (Entry 3 of 3)

—used to express annoyance or surprise

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing shoot Learn More About shoot

Examples of shoot in a Sentence

Verb Does this gun shoot accurately? He shot at the deer. The enemy was shooting at the rescue helicopter. She shot the arrow into the air. I tried shooting a gun for the first time. He shot a spitball into the girl's hair. a stunt in which she was shot from a cannon He shot two deer this hunting season. The police shot the suspect in the leg. She accidentally shot herself in the foot. Noun Small green shoots grew from the base of the tree. She is currently on a movie shoot in London. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The footage premieres exclusively on ELLE, along with photos of Jisoo from a special Dior shoot. — Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 12 May 2022 My favorite look [from the shoot] was the pink African print. — Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE.com, 11 May 2022 Read the full Women’s Health story here, and check out more photos from the cover shoot below. — Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 10 May 2022 Hayek shared some of the photos from the shoot on Instagram Wednesday. — Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2022 Pfeiffer continued to work when the kids were young, hauling them from one film shoot to the next. — Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2022 This was no easy task as he’d be closeted in his psychedelic Rolls, parked as far away from the shoot as possible. — Andrew Birkin, Variety, 17 Mar. 2022 The pictures matched multiple photographs at her Welsh landing site, with the definitive match an undated photo taken most likely from the Copley Plaza rooftop photo shoot. — Arkansas Online, 13 Feb. 2022 The pictures matched multiple photographs at her Welsh landing site, with the definitive match an undated photo taken most likely from the Copley Plaza rooftop photo shoot. — New York Times, 10 Feb. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shoot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.