shot

1 of 3

noun

ˈshät 

1

a

: an action of shooting

b

: a directed propelling of a missile

specifically : a directed discharge of a firearm

c(1)

: a stroke or throw in an attempt to score points in a game (such as tennis, pool, or basketball)

also : home run

(2)

: ability to shoot

has the best shot on the team

d

: blast sense 5a

e

: a medical or narcotics injection

2

a

plural shot : something propelled by shooting

especially : small lead or steel pellets especially forming a charge for a shotgun

b

: a metal sphere of iron or brass that is heaved in the shot put

3

a

: the distance that a missile is or can be thrown

b

: range, reach

4

: a charge to be paid : scot

5

: one that shoots

especially : marksman

6

a

: attempt, try

give it a shot

b

: guess, conjecture

c

: chance sense 4a

a shot at winning the prize

d

: a single appearance as an entertainer

did a guest shot for the program

7

: an effective remark

especially : swipe sense 2

a parting shot

8

a

: a single photographic exposure

especially : snapshot

b

: a single sequence of a movie or a television program shot by one camera without interruption

9

: a charge of explosives

10

a

: a small measure or serving (such as one ounce) of undiluted liquor or other beverage

vodka shots

a shot of espresso

b

: a small amount applied at one time : dose

a shot of fertilizer

a shot of humor

11

shot plural : sprinkles, jimmies

shot

2 of 3

past tense and past participle of shoot

shot

3 of 3

adjective

1

a

of a fabric : having contrasting and changeable color effects : iridescent

b

: suffused or streaked with a color

hair shot with gray

c

: infused or permeated with a quality or element

shot through with wit

2

: having the form of pellets resembling shot

3

: reduced to a ruined or useless state

his nerves are shot

Phrases

a shot

: for each one : apiece

like a shot

: very rapidly

shot in the arm

: stimulus, boost

shot in the dark

1

: a wild guess

2

: an attempt that has little chance of success

Synonyms

Noun

• firing
• blasting

Examples of shot in a Sentence

Noun

cannon operators often had to use several shots to figure out the range of their targets

let's take another shot at the puzzle

Adjective

The tires on the car are shot.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In one shot, Brittany is posing with Swift, 35, at a restaurant as the gal pals sip martinis and smile for the camera. —Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

Penta went one-on-one with Rusev with a shot at Dominik Mysterio's WWE Intercontinental Championship at stake. —Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Like on a smartphone, a post-shot preview appears with every capture. —PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025

OpenAI said the new release represents a major leap in physical realism, audio-video synchronization, and multi-shot storytelling. —Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English sceot, scot; akin to Old High German scuz, Old Norse skot shot, Old English scēotan to shoot — more at shoot

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing shot

• allergy shot
• angle shot
• approach shot
• a shot across the/someone's bow(s)
• bank shot
• big shot
• booster shot
• by a long shot
• cheap shot
• chip shot
• combination shot
• counter-shot
• crack shot
• dolly shot
• draw shot
• drop shot
• dunk shot
• establishing shot
• follow shot
• foul shot
• get/be shot of
• give (something) a shot
• head shot
• hook shot
• jump shot
• long shot
• make the shot
• money shot
• moon shot
• mug shot
• not by a long shot
• one-shot
• one-shot deal
• parting shot
• passing shot
• penalty shot
• pitch shot
• rim shot
• set shot
• shot clock
• shot hole
• shot put
• slap shot
• split shot
• take a shot
• tee shot
• the shot put
• took a parting shot
• tracking shot
• wood shot
• wrist shot

Rhymes for shot

• aught
• baht
• blot
• bott
• bought
• brought
• caught
• clot
• cot
• cott
• dot
• fought

Kids Definition

shot

1 of 3 noun

ˈshät 

1

a

: an action of shooting

b

: an aimed discharge of a weapon (as a gun or cannon)

c

: a stroke or throw in a game

especially : an attempt at scoring

d

: an injection of something (as a medicine or vaccine) into the body

penicillin shots

2

a

plural shot : something sent by shooting

especially : small lead or steel pellets forming a charge for a shotgun

b

: a heavy metal ball thrown for distance in the shot put

3

: the flight of a missile or the distance it travels : range

within rifle shot

4

: a person who shoots

a good shot

5

a

: attempt entry 2 sense 1, try

take another shot at the puzzle

b

: chance

has a good shot at winning

6

a

: photograph entry 1

b

: a single portion of a movie or a television program shot by one camera without stopping

7

a

: a small measure or amount of alcoholic liquor

b

: a small amount applied at one time : dose

shot

2 of 3

past and past participle of shoot

shot

3 of 3 adjective

1

: marked or streaked with a different color

blue shot with silver

hair shot with gray

2

: brought to a state of ruin or uselessness

my nerves were shot

the tires are shot

Medical Definition

shot

1 of 2 noun

ˈshät 

: an injection of a drug, immunizing substance, nutrient, or medicament

a tetanus shot

see booster shot, flu shot

shot

2 of 2

past and past part of shoot