\ ˈshüt
\
\
shot\
ˈshät
\; shooting
\; shooting
Definition of shoot
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
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
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
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
5a
: to grow or sprout by or as if by putting forth shoots
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
shoot from the hip
shoot one's bolt
shoot one's cuffs
shoot oneself in the foot
shoot the breeze
shoot the shit
shoot the works
: to aim at : strive for
: to act or speak hastily without consideration of the consequences
: to exhaust one's capabilities and resources
: to tug one's shirt cuffs below those of one's coat
: to act against one's own best interests
: to converse idly : gossip
vulgar
: to shoot the breeze
1
: to venture all one's capital on one play
2
: to put forth all one's efforts
shoot
nounDefinition 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
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
interjectionDefinition of shoot (Entry 3 of 3)
—used to express annoyance or surprise
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The warning did not specifically say that security forces had been given shoot-to-kill orders.
—
Story From Reuters, CNN, "16 protesters killed in Myanmar on 'day of shame for armed forces'," 27 Mar. 2021
The top three all shoot at least 33 percent from 3-point range.
—
Tim Bielik, cleveland, "Dennis Gates reflects on driving Kelvin Sampson; Torrey Patton hopes Vikings showed resilience: The latest from Cleveland State basketball," 16 Mar. 2021
This isn’t the first time that -- shoot, a 15 [seed] has beat a two [seed].
—
Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, "Nate Oats: Alabama ‘more talented’ than Iona but must play ‘hard and loose’," 16 Mar. 2021
The tension of the shoot (which took place during wartime, at high risk) and the immediacy of the drama elevated the entire cast to a sharp dramatic focus.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "Ingrid Bergman in “Stromboli” and the Power of Nonprofessional Actors," 6 Mar. 2021
Anthem was a bad attempt to compete with Destiny, but there’s no reason the publisher couldn’t assign another team an online loot-and-shoot style project.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes, "The Next ‘Dragon Age’ Game Will Be Single-Player Only," 25 Feb. 2021
Fan accounts are dedicated to his work and HF Twitter users pore over every shoot, image, and reference.
—
Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Hugo Comte Releases His First Career Monograph, With Help from Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid," 22 Feb. 2021
There was almost no rehearsal ahead of the month-long shoot, which meant that Pike was constantly surprised by her fellow actors on set.
—
Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, "Rosamund Pike embraces her despicable, fascinating con artist in ‘I Care a Lot’," 21 Feb. 2021
The same certainly goes for the singer's Vanity Fair cover shoot, which was revealed by the magazine on January 25.
—
Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, "Billie Eilish's Mirror Chrome Nails Are the Star of Her Vanity Fair Cover Shoot," 26 Jan. 2021
See MoreThese 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.
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Cite this Entry
“Shoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoot. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.
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More Definitions for shoot
shoot
verb
English Language Learners Definition of shoot
(Entry 1 of 3)
: to cause a bullet, arrow, etc., to move forward with great force from a weapon
: to wound or kill (a person or animal) with a bullet, arrow, etc., that is shot from a weapon
: to remove or destroy (something) with a bullet, rocket, etc., that is shot from a weapon
shoot
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of shoot (Entry 2 of 3)
: the part of a new plant that is just beginning to grow above the ground
: a new branch and its leaves on an established plant
: an occasion when a movie, television show, etc., is being filmed
shoot
interjectionEnglish Language Learners Definition of shoot (Entry 3 of 3)
US
—used to show that you are annoyed or surprised
See the full definition for shoot in the English Language Learners Dictionary
shoot
verb
\ ˈshüt
\
\
shot\
ˈshät
\; shooting
Kids Definition of shoot
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to let fly or cause to be driven forward with force
He shot an arrow into the air.
2
: to cause a projectile (as a bullet) to be driven out of
The guard shot a gun.
3
: to cause a weapon to discharge a projectile
Aim and shoot.
4
: to strike with a projectile from a bow or gun
He shot a deer.
5
: to hit, throw, or kick (as a ball or puck) toward or into a goal
6
: to score by shooting
The player shot a basket.
7
: play entry 1 sense 2
Let's shoot some pool.
8
: to thrust forward swiftly
Lizards shot out their tongues.
9
: to grow rapidly
The corn is shooting up.
10
: to go, move, or pass rapidly
They shot past on skis.
11
: to direct at quickly and suddenly
I shot them an angry look.
12
: to stream out suddenly : spurt
Blood was shooting from the wound.
13
: to film or photograph
The movie was shot in Australia.
14
: to pass swiftly along or through
We shot the rapids in a canoe.
shoot
nounKids Definition of shoot (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: a stem or branch of a plant especially when young or just beginning to grow
2
: a hunting party or trip
a duck shoot
shoot
transitive verb
\ ˈshüt
\
\
shot\
ˈshät
\; shooting
\; shooting
Medical Definition of shoot
1
: to give an injection to
2
: to take or administer (as a drug) by hypodermic needle
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Time Traveler for shoot
The first known use of shoot was before the 12th century
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