shot
ˈshät 
; shooting
; shooting
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
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
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
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
5
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
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
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
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
—used to express annoyance or surprise
Synonyms
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
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
To store asparagus, trim off an inch or so from the bottom and place the shoots in a tall, wide glass, vase or measuring cup with a couple of inches of water.
—Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
Last year, the studios were able to maintain a 70% occupancy level despite the impact of the Hollywood strikes and are on track to keep that level this year with several big Hollywood shoots coming soon, though NDAs are keeping details under wraps.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Caldwell says tools like AI platform Tome refine his workflows and cut down on production time by planning shoots in advance.
—Cheyann Harris, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
Prior to her Easter celebrations and bunny-themed shoot with Rhode, Hailey hinted that the brand is gearing up to launch a new product soon.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The extreme effort his team expended to secure the Akasaka shoot was exemplary of the challenges of working in Japan — as was his dismay over the possibility of a rainout.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024
Its limbs were torn in the wind, but within 18 months, the young tree was sprouting new shoots.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
The curator of this show, Brad Dunning, was also the coordinator of that shoot shortly before the architect passed away in 1998 at 95 years old.
—John Oseid, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
In a recent interview with Los Angeles’ Power 106, Cabello detailed the real-life, off-screen chaos that complicated the shoot.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
To store asparagus, trim off an inch or so from the bottom and place the shoots in a tall, wide glass, vase or measuring cup with a couple of inches of water.
—Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
Last year, the studios were able to maintain a 70% occupancy level despite the impact of the Hollywood strikes and are on track to keep that level this year with several big Hollywood shoots coming soon, though NDAs are keeping details under wraps.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Caldwell says tools like AI platform Tome refine his workflows and cut down on production time by planning shoots in advance.
—Cheyann Harris, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
Prior to her Easter celebrations and bunny-themed shoot with Rhode, Hailey hinted that the brand is gearing up to launch a new product soon.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The extreme effort his team expended to secure the Akasaka shoot was exemplary of the challenges of working in Japan — as was his dismay over the possibility of a rainout.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024
Its limbs were torn in the wind, but within 18 months, the young tree was sprouting new shoots.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
The curator of this show, Brad Dunning, was also the coordinator of that shoot shortly before the architect passed away in 1998 at 95 years old.
—John Oseid, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shoot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of shoot was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing shoot
Dictionary Entries Near shoot
Cite this Entry
“Shoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoot. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
shoot
1 of 2 verb
shot
ˈshät
; shooting
; 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 noun1
a
: a plant stem with its leaves and branches especially when not yet mature
b
2
a
: an act of shooting
b
: a hunting trip or party
c
: a shooting match
More from Merriam-Webster on shoot
Nglish: Translation of shoot for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of shoot for Arabic Speakers
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