1
2
as in to race
to proceed or move quickly
the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fly
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bolt
The tune bolts to No. 1 in just its third week on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.
—
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Caldwell replaces Poona Ford, who bolted for the Rams in free agency.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
The shooting was believed to be targeted, sources told The News, adding that police are looking for three individuals who bolted from the scene, heading north toward Myrtle Ave.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
But the Yankees no longer have superstar Juan Soto, who bolted across town to the New York Mets.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bolt
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Caldwell replaces Poona Ford, who bolted for the Rams in free agency.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
The shooting was believed to be targeted, sources told The News, adding that police are looking for three individuals who bolted from the scene, heading north toward Myrtle Ave.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
But the Yankees no longer have superstar Juan Soto, who bolted across town to the New York Mets.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
Verb
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Burberry’s stock jumped more than 9% Wednesday morning following the results.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
-
The Fame returns to the top 40 on the Official Albums chart, jumping from No. 48 to No. 37.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Verb
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America’s gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the US economy, showed its first quarterly contraction since early 2022, as importers raced to bring in goods before punishing tariff rates kicked in.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
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In an interview with the Sunday Times, which was published in May but conducted in March, Brooklyn Beckham, 26, credited his dad with inspiring his love of racing at a young age while discussing his experience at the Formula E Evo Sessions in Miami at the Miami International Autodrome.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Books about fictional weddings fly off the shelves of bookstores, too.—
Lian Dolan,
People.com,
20 May 2025
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Washington left the event shortly after the screening began, having flown to France for the festival on his sole day off, portraying the titular role in Broadway's latest production of Othello.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Van Etten exclaimed after the audience’s rapturous applause.—
Britt Julious,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
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But one day, while playing, his sons exclaimed OKO and the name stuck.—
Gary Stern,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
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As months and years of data arrived, Keeling’s rigorous work revealed two global phenomena: Earth’s plants inhaling CO2 each summer and exhaling it each winter, and CO2 levels’ unrelenting annual increase.—
Ashley Braun,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 May 2025
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Workers who inhaled Teflon fumes developed flu-like symptoms.—
Mariah Blake,
The Atlantic,
5 May 2025
Verb
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Los Blancos sped up talks after their 4-3 defeat to Barcelona on May 11, which effectively ended hopes of retaining their La Liga title this season.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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There are already dozens of newsletters bringing educators up to speed on how to use it to help students learn.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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In the past, a similar violation might have led to a fine. Petrova, a top-tier researcher, fled Russia after protesting Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine and had been working in a Harvard Medical School lab for two years.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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As the Nazis encroached on Czechoslovakia in 1938, the Löw-Beers fled.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Traditionally, the upside down American flag signals distress, and that was the mood expressed as speakers shouted, cried and chanted with the crowd of around 100 people.—
Harley Walls,
Arkansas Online,
17 May 2025
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The rhythmic track—where there are no lyrics, only shout outs to the album’s collaborators—sets the perfect tone for the cultural-statement-making production: a strong blend of Cuban timba, rumba and hard-hitting bass and claves.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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