jolts; jolted; jolting
1
a
: to cause (something or someone) to move in a quick and sudden way
The explosion jolted the ship.
He was jolted forward when the bus stopped suddenly.
The loud bang jolted me awake.
The attack jolted the country into action.
b
: to move with a quick and sudden motion
The car jolted [=jerked] forward when he let the clutch out too quickly.
2
: to surprise or shock (someone)
She jolted the medical world with her announcement.
plural jolts
1
: a sudden, rough movement
the initial jolt [=shock] of the earthquake
I sprang out of bed with a jolt.
The car stopped with a jolt.
2
: a sudden shock or surprise
I got/had quite a jolt when I heard the door slam.
The defeat was quite a jolt to the team.
a severe financial jolt
The stock market suffered a major jolt yesterday.
3
: a small but powerful amount of something
She needed a jolt of caffeine to start her day.
a jolt of electricity
The unexpected praise he received gave him a jolt of confidence.
Cite this Entry
“Jolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/jolt. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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