bolt

Definition of boltnext
1
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

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2
3
4
as in to exclaim
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling bolted out the cuss word without thinking

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5
as in to inhale
to swallow or eat greedily the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bolt Vladislav Gavrikov, who bolted in free agency over the summer, returned to his old stomping grounds for the first time and picked up an assist for his new team and an unwelcome one for his former cohorts as well. Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026 Reynolds scored 16 of his 22 points in the first quarter as Martin bolted out to a 29-2 lead after one and led 45-13 at halftime. Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026 As the officers pursued the first suspect, the second suspect bolted from the bus and is still at large, police said. Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026 Some organizations are bolting AI onto legacy workflows and gaining marginal productivity. Mohamad Ali, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
Verb
  • Even as Covid-19 disrupted global travel, the length of operational high-speed lines jumped by 40% between 2020 and 2022, from 27,300 to 36,580 miles — most of it in China.
    Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
  • This jumps the number of accidents to 151 since the start of the harsh winter weather Saturday.
    Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Advocates like Aiello are now racing to secure measures to avoid catastrophe before the frontier is closed.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Their massive move also underscores how big donors are racing to back science-heavy, tech-centric projects such as peers like the Gates Foundation.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • From brushing ice in curling to flying down an ice track headfirst in skeleton, the Winter Olympics are home to some unique and exciting sports that feature uncommon vernacular.
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Last November, the PLA Air Force released a video showing a GJ-11 flying alongside and linked with a J-20 stealth fighter.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Cottrill exclaimed to the contract-holders in a text message viewed by the NYT.
    Joe Wilkins Published Feb 5, Futurism, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Drink the Sea drummer Barrett Martin exclaimed.
    Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • They are sought out by patients who want to stop inhaling smoke, who can’t tolerate withdrawal, or who have failed repeatedly with abstinence-only approaches.
    Timothy Vermillion, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Guardiola inhaled deeply when asked about the non-handball against Wolves last weekend and could have decided not to comment.
    Sam Lee, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • When in doubt, Anna’s likely to speed-dial her sister, Emily.
    Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
  • As their orbit tightens, the relativistic precession of the stars speeds up, while the planet’s precession slows down, because the stars act more like a single object from far away.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The suspect fled the area before police arrived.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Salazarmontano also admitted sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter and inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.
    City News Service, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Hostile video appears on screen During a presentation, a video of a man shouting anti‑Israeli rhetoric appeared on the screen.
    Erin Jones, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
  • At some point, members of the crowd also joined in, shouting at the boxers and each other.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

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