plural shootings
Synonyms of shootingnext
1
: the act of shooting a gun
But shooting is many a man's choice, especially up at the great hunting clubs like Choctaw Bluff …—Harriet de Rosišre
2
: an instance of gun violence directed toward a person or group of people
a drive-by shooting
mass shootings
… a clutch of outspoken student activists flipped the national script on school shootings in America.—Dahlia Lithwick
3
: the act of photographing or filming someone or something
A large fan specially designed to create the effect of wind during shooting.—Ira Konigsberg
That part of filmmaking that comes immediately after the shooting is completed …—Ira Konigsberg

shooting

2 of 2

present participle of shoot entry 1

Examples of shooting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Investigators recovered 114 spent shell casings along the K Street Mall after the shooting, according to court records, evidence of the sheer volume of gunfire unleashed within seconds. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 During a 100-84 loss to the Fire on May 30, Clark scored only six points on 1-of-7 shooting and was seen arguing with White during a timeout, fueling online speculation about a rift between the superstar and her coach. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 Officers were seen placing several people in handcuffs and taking them away after the shooting. — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Just before midnight, Broward County Regional Communications received calls about a shooting in the 1500 block of Northwest Seventh Avenue. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shooting

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shooting was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shooting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shooting. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Medical Definition

shooting

adjective
shoot·​ing
: characterized by sudden sharp piercing sensations
shooting pains

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