shoot

1 of 3

verb

ˈshüt 

shot ˈshät  ; shooting

transitive verb

1

a(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

3

a

: 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

4

a(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

5

a

: 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

6

a

: 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

10

a

: 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

13

a

: to give an injection to

b

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

intransitive verb

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

5

a

: 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 tall

prices shot up

6

a

: 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

2 of 3

noun

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

2

a

: 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

3

a

: 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

3 of 3

interjection

—used to express annoyance or surprise

Phrases

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

Synonyms

Verb

• fire
• throw
• launch

Noun

• limb
• sprout

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Look for flower spikes that are beginning to decline, and cut the stem just above a set of leaves or side shoots. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 July 2025

Too much nitrogen fosters loads of vegetative (leaf and shoot) growth and little reproductive (flower and fruit) growth. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025

As for shootouts, Mats Zuccarello has 39 shootout goals and shoots at a tremendous 45.3 percent rate. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 July 2025

Gilgeous-Alexander is here for the legendary video game series’ cover shoot for its annual release, which includes him, the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, and retired all-star Carmelo Anthony. —Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sheten, shoten, shuten, from Old English scēotan; akin to Old Norse skjōta to shoot

Noun

Middle English schot, schote projectile, new growth, in part from shoten, verb, in part from Old English sceot shot

Interjection

euphemism for shit

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Interjection

1876, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing shoot

• blame/shoot the messenger
• look/shoot/stare daggers at
• photo shoot
• point-and-shoot
• reach/shoot for the moon
• run-and-shoot
• shoot baskets
• shoot dead
• shoot down
• shoot-'em-up
• shoot it out
• shoot off
• shoot off at the mouth
• shoot one's mouth off
• shoot on sight
• shoot-out
• shoot the bull
• shoot-the-chutes
• shoot the rapids
• shoot to kill
• shoot up
• turkey shoot

Rhymes for shoot

• beaut
• boot
• bruit
• brut
• brute
• chute
• coot
• cute
• flute
• fruit
• hoot
• jute

Kids Definition

shoot

1 of 2 verb

ˈshüt 

shot ˈshät  ; shooting

1

a

: to let fly or cause to be driven forward with force

shoot an arrow

b

: to cause a missile to be driven out of

shoot a gun

c

: to cause a weapon to discharge a missile

shoot at a target

2

a

: to send (a marble) forward by snapping the thumb

b

: to hit or throw (as a ball or puck) toward a goal

c

: to score by shooting

shoot a basket

d

: play entry 2 sense 5a

shoot pool

3

: to strike with a missile from a bow or gun

especially : to kill by so doing

shot a deer

4

: to push or slide into or out of a fastening

shot the door bolt

5

a

: to push or thrust forward swiftly

lizards shooting out their tongues

b

: to grow rapidly

the corn is shooting up

6

a

: to go, move, or pass rapidly

they shot past on skis

b

: to pass swiftly along

shoot the rapids in a canoe

c

: to stream out suddenly : spurt

d

: to dart with a piercing sensation

shooting pains

7

: to take the altitude of

shoot the sun with a sextant

8

: to take a picture or series of pictures or television images of

shooter noun

shoot

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a plant stem with its leaves and branches especially when not yet mature

b

: offshoot sense 1

2

a

: an act of shooting

b

: a hunting trip or party

c

: a shooting match

Medical Definition

shoot

transitive verb

ˈshüt 

shot ˈshät  ; shooting

1

: to give an injection to

2

: to take or administer (as a drug) by hypodermic needle