1
: a battle fought with handguns or rifles
2
: something resembling a shoot-out
broadly : showdown
3
: a shooting competition in overtime that is used to determine the winner of a game (as in soccer or hockey) tied at the end of regular play

Examples of shoot-out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In episode 9, for example, there’s an elaborate shoot-out at the Fennario horse ranch that involves a rival gang and Manfredi’s soldiers going head to head. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 16 June 2025 Police are still searching for the suspect following a shoot-out after encountering him at Hortman's house after the shooting of Hoffman, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Escher Walcott, People.com, 15 June 2025 Sunday’s shoot-out was occurring on a narrow street lined with businesses. Edgar H. Clemente, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025 Gonzalo Montiel recently moved back to River Plate after years in Europe and the majesty of scoring the winning penalty in a World Cup final shoot-out. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for shoot-out

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoot-out was in 1948

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Cite this Entry

“Shoot-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoot-out. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

shoot-out

noun
ˈshüt-ˌau̇t
: a battle fought with handguns or rifles
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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