Definition of shootnext
1
as in to fire
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force BB guns shoot small round metal pellets

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2
as in to blast
to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force soldiers train extensively to learn to shoot accurately and quickly

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5
as in to photograph
to take a photograph of shooting the lakeside scene while the light lasted

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shoot

2 of 2

noun

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 shoot
Verb
The move does not produce a goal, but in little more than four seconds, Haaland has changed direction, accelerated, controlled the ball and reorganised his body to shoot. Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Two 16-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man were wounded Tuesday night in a drive-by shooting on the West Side in the Austin neighborhood, Chicago police said. Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
Haaland has to stay onside, read a pass, evade defenders and retain enough control to change direction or shoot. Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Rafael Nadal winning, as ever, at Roland Garros Variety caught up with Heinzerling and Diego Ávalos, Content VP at Netflix Spain which guided the Spanish shoot, as the Primetime Emmy race steps up a gear. John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoot
Verb
  • The Islamic Republic proceeded to fire missiles and drones on neighboring countries hosting US bases.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The return also shows DePaul paid a $863,500 buyout last fiscal cycle to former head men’s basketball Tony Stubblefield, who was fired in early 2024 after less than three seasons on the job.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Crow-Armstrong blasted another leadoff home run, this time off White Sox opener Bryan Hudson, a one-time Cubs prospect who also gave up a homer to Michael Busch in the first inning.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Warren has blasted the party’s reliance on catering to billionaire donors over working people’s interests in the intraparty battle between progressives and moderates.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • However, the vast majority of these folks did not actually vote, and many asked for their erroneous registrations to be purged, contrary to the Republican fantasy that millions of noncitizens are all gunning to illegally vote.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • Some Democratic candidates gunning to replace Graham Platner have criticized Collins’ recent vote to continue funding the agency without requiring additional guardrails.
    NBC news, NBC news, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • So a new grant, under the early-stage NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, aims to create small, flying vehicles that could explore those caves.
    Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • When not searching for glass floats, enjoy other pastimes like tide pooling, beachcombing, and kite flying (home to two kite festivals, Lincoln City calls itself the Kite Capital of the World).
    Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Garner, who was photographed separately at the store, embraced an athleisure style moment with a pair of forest green leggings with white stripes running down the sides.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Out in Nature The trio were photographed enjoying the outdoors at Balmoral Castle in 1979.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • As China’s strategic rivalry with the US and its allies deepens, Beijing has broadened its anti-espionage campaign, casting suspicious eyes on foreign ties amid concerns about the leak of state secrets.
    Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Interestingly enough, before Chandler was cast in the role, Josh Brolin was linked with the part.
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In a building where people survived by shouting over each other, the biggest man was the quietest.
    Jeff Rabhan, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Styles’s fourth album revels in all those hours spent shouting euphoria into the ears of friends on dance floors and riding the bassy, body-vibrating techno loops until well after the sun comes up.
    Vogue, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Never dump soil in large clumps in the garden; instead, sprinkle it thinly and evenly.
    Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Warren Buffett went long in his annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders—often 10,000-plus words, deep on the year’s lessons and the company’s results, sprinkled with folksy wisdom.
    Phil Wahba, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoot. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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