shots

Definition of shotsnext
plural of shot
1
as in firings
a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece cannon operators often had to use several shots to figure out the range of their targets

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2
3
as in photos
a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera took a shot of his family for the scrapbook

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4
as in shooters
a person skilled in shooting at a target a soldier who's an excellent shot with a rifle

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5
as in sips
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time drank a shot of whisky

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6
as in guesses
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence I have no idea what's different about you, but I'll take a shot: you cut your hair?

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7
as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place we have a real shot at getting into the championship if we win this next match

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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 shots Barracuda goalie Laurent Brossoit stopped nine of 11 shots in the first period and finished with 27 saves. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026 Chisholm wasn’t the only Yankee to go yard on Friday, as Ryan McMahon (2nd inning), Ben Rice (7th inning) and José Caballero (7th inning) also launched solo shots. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026 The Celtics made shots in bunches and built a double-digit lead on multiple occasions. Tony Jones, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026 The Celtics also blocked three of the Sixers’ final four shots of the third, with Jordan Walsh, Brown and Vucevic all rejecting layups. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026 The Rockets’ final two shots fell short and the Lakers held on for another resilient win. Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 While earlier vaccination is ideal, this study and others show that there is significant benefit for those who may not have gotten the shots earlier and then got vaccinated later. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 Backup center Goga Bitadze swatted away four shots and altered several others. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2026 Victor Ostman made his first NHL start and turned back 33 shots. ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shots
Noun
  • The department paid nearly $3 million to former employees since 2019 to settle accusations of pay, age, gender and disability discrimination, whistleblower protection violations, and retaliatory firings.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Those firings included Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, White House chief of staff John Kelly, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Harley’s been much more noticeable in this series and, again, has excellent underlying numbers — his 23 shot attempts are second only to Heiskanen, and his nine shots on goal are second only to Robertson.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Previous attempts at extracting uranium ions have relied on a passive system in which adsorbents remain stationary and wait for uranium ions to pass through them for trapping.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Plus, most of the photos are, indeed, museum-worthy, and many reflect trends in institutional art collecting that have been fashionable since the museum’s photo department was created in 2008.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2026
  • But the enthusiasm was motivating, from fans snapping photos of Hathaway and Meryl Streep on the New York streets, to support from Anna Wintour.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Then the ball was tipped, and Hyland assumed his role as an irritant of Denver’s corner shooters.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Sportsmen’s groups generally connect recreational shooters and hunters, and at the congressional level the caucus is bipartisan.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • General admission includes unlimited tastes and sips from all vendors, live music on multiple stages, two 360 photo booths and attended luxury trailer restrooms.
    Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
  • In person, the audience sips cocktails and witnesses top-notch side acts that cleanse the palate between improv blocks, with a mix of nationally touring stand-up, mimes, musicians and more.
    John Wenzel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But whether that happens is anyone’s guess — or to be more specific, tens of thousands of guesses.
    Bernard Condon, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Recent deals in the shaky apartment market for Oakland might help shove property values lower in the coming weeks as the Alameda County Assessor’s Office finalizes its latest guesses for property values in its jurisdiction.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Creating more majority-Republican districts but with thinner margins could dilute GOP advantages and give Democrats more opportunities to win seats, especially if there’s an anti-Trump backlash at the polls this year.
    Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • There’s that, plus the hundreds of thousands of stellar restaurants, outstanding shopping opportunities, and zany offbeat attractions that make the Japanese capital a wildly entertaining—and impeccably safe—destination for travelers of all kinds.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There had been doubt over the 2026 launch following the second failure of the H3 in seven tries in December 2025, but the issue was soon isolated as a payload fairing separation anomaly, clearing the way for MMX to proceed.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The duck confit and salmon tagine are must-tries, and the candlelit atmosphere pairs perfectly with excellent cocktails.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Shots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shots. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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