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 San Juan Hills bolted to a 6-0 lead in the third set and, with Hodges scoring on kills and blocks, went on to its 25-11 win to go ahead in sets 2-1. Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025 In Van Horn, ninety miles southwest of Pecos, the shelter consisted of four outdoor cages bolted to a concrete pad. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025 Suddenly the big buck came crashing up from the forest floor and bolted toward the right. Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025 Toronto’s fielding fails them Addison Barger stared at the sky, bolting to his right as Austin Wells’ fly ball fell. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
Verb
  • That’s why the team turned to look into how these insects transition between jumping, flapping, and gliding.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The new season of Prime Video's high-octane thriller jumps eight years ahead of the explosive Season 1 finale with Pine running a quiet surveillance unit in London under the alias Alex Goodwin, a low-level MI6 officer.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Clippers raced to a 14-5 lead, but the Knicks answered with eight straight points and the game was close for the first three quarters.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • In Altadena, employees with the small local water utilities raced across town protecting and fixing the water systems firefighters relied on.
    Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The self-flying camera is equipped with a 4K camera capable of recording at up to 100 frames per second.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
  • On Wednesday, numerous commemorations and tributes occurred in the devastated communities and throughout the city and county of Los Angeles —including flags flying at half-staff at City Hall, county buildings and at all state buildings.
    City News Service, Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Clarkson exclaimed in another video.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Ron exclaims in the final moments, just in case the scene was in danger of falling too far on one side of the horror/comedy divide.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Jet fuels and other petroleum products are refined from crude oil, and contain chemicals that are toxic to humans when inhaled.
    Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Sprays are easy to apply to skin or clothing but must be used with caution as they can also be inhaled.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • His arm was pinned into the back window of a car as a suspect sped away, dragging him across the pavement for about 100 yards, according to court documents.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
  • By speeding up the transit time of your stomach contents, fiber may reduce the amount of time that stomach acid can irritate your esophagus, Dilley added.
    Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The tanker, Bella 1, had renamed itself Marinera and registered under the Russian flag after fleeing the region, according to an intelligence report from AI maritime analytics firm Windward.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Instead of stopping to help the victim, the driver fled from the area.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Davis stood up and shouted at referee Jeffrey Anderson.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The post even shouted out Moore, who was absent.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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