1
a
: an action of shooting
b
: a directed propelling of a missile
specifically
: a directed discharge of a firearm
c(1)
: a stroke or throw in an attempt to score points in a game (such as tennis, pool, or basketball)
also
: home run
(2)
: ability to shoot
has the best shot on the team
d
e
: a medical or narcotics injection
2
a
plural shot
: something propelled by shooting
especially
: small lead or steel pellets especially forming a charge for a shotgun
b
: a metal sphere of iron or brass that is heaved in the shot put
4
: a charge to be paid : scot
5
: one that shoots
especially
: marksman
6
b
: guess, conjecture
c
: chance sense 4a
a shot at winning the prize
d
: a single appearance as an entertainer
did a guest shot for the program
7
: an effective remark
8
a
: a single photographic exposure
especially
: snapshot
b
: a single sequence of a motion picture or a television program shot by one camera without interruption
9
: a charge of explosives
10
a
: a small measure or serving (such as one ounce) of undiluted liquor or other beverage
vodka shots
a shot of espresso
b
: a small amount applied at one time : dose
a shot of fertilizer
a shot of humor
shot
2 of 3past tense and past participle of shoot
1
a
of a fabric
: having contrasting and changeable color effects : iridescent
b
: suffused or streaked with a color
hair shot with gray
c
: infused or permeated with a quality or element
shot through with wit
2
: having the form of pellets resembling shot
3
: reduced to a ruined or useless state
his nerves are shot
Synonyms
Examples of shot in a Sentence
Noun
cannon operators often had to use several shots to figure out the range of their targets
let's take another shot at the puzzle
Adjective
The tires on the car are shot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maya Polton, Parents, 12 Apr. 2024
While Lamar’s diss was the most blatant, fans have speculated that both Future and Metro had also taken some shots at Drake on the album.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
The camera doesn’t turn, but her head does, swiveling with each shot.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Burns shot three double bogeys en route to an opening eight-over 80 – just two shots better than the field’s worst score – leaving him with a mountain to climb in order to survive the cut and make it to the weekend.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Burger’s home run, a 425-foot shot into the Marlins’ bullpen in left-center field, was his third home run of the season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Honorary Starters Since 1963, in the same vein of past champions being invited to the Masters year after year, the tournament has chosen 'Honorary Starters' to hit the first shots of the week.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
This was substantiated by the twins changing the profile photo on their Facebook page to what appears to be a wedding shot of themselves and Josh.
—Chris Barilla, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
All of seven minutes later, Sporting (2-1-3, 9 points) had doubled its lead on another long-range shot, this one from Jake Davis in the 64th minute.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2024
Each green has built-in pods that can track swathes of shot information, incorporating the PGA Tour’s ShotLink data.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024
At this point, Trooper Godbout fired one shot striking Muller in the chest area.
—Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2024
Cut out doughnuts using a 2-inch doughnut or biscuit cutter for small doughnuts or a 4-inch cutter for large doughnuts; alternatively use a shot glass or a 1-inch round cutter to make the hole.
—Kimberly Winter Stern, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
Gather your friends, spin the roulette wheel, and let the festivities begin as everyone takes their chances with the shot glass selection.
—Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023
This is a tequila meant to be sipped in a tumbler, not slurped down in a shot glass.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 22 Nov. 2023
Indiana desperately needs another 3-point shooter, a shot creator, and assist machine in the backcourt, and Clark checks all of those boxes.
—Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2023
Place cloves or a whole bulb, that has started to sprout, in a clear glass container (like a jar, drinking glass, or shot glass) positioned upright and fill it with just enough warm water so that less than half the clove or bulb is covered.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
Noun
The drone flies by itself on autopilot and will actually hover and maneuver its way through the air to dodge your shots.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 12 Apr. 2024
While Lamar’s diss was the most blatant, fans have speculated that both Future and Metro had also taken some shots at Drake on the album.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
The camera doesn’t turn, but her head does, swiveling with each shot.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Burns shot three double bogeys en route to an opening eight-over 80 – just two shots better than the field’s worst score – leaving him with a mountain to climb in order to survive the cut and make it to the weekend.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Burger’s home run, a 425-foot shot into the Marlins’ bullpen in left-center field, was his third home run of the season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Honorary Starters Since 1963, in the same vein of past champions being invited to the Masters year after year, the tournament has chosen 'Honorary Starters' to hit the first shots of the week.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
This was substantiated by the twins changing the profile photo on their Facebook page to what appears to be a wedding shot of themselves and Josh.
—Chris Barilla, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
All of seven minutes later, Sporting (2-1-3, 9 points) had doubled its lead on another long-range shot, this one from Jake Davis in the 64th minute.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Nguyen reached down to pick up his shot glass and Vang punched him once, striking him in the shoulder and face, the complaint continued.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2024
Each green has built-in pods that can track swathes of shot information, incorporating the PGA Tour’s ShotLink data.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024
At this point, Trooper Godbout fired one shot striking Muller in the chest area.
—Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2024
Cut out doughnuts using a 2-inch doughnut or biscuit cutter for small doughnuts or a 4-inch cutter for large doughnuts; alternatively use a shot glass or a 1-inch round cutter to make the hole.
—Kimberly Winter Stern, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
Gather your friends, spin the roulette wheel, and let the festivities begin as everyone takes their chances with the shot glass selection.
—Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023
This is a tequila meant to be sipped in a tumbler, not slurped down in a shot glass.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 22 Nov. 2023
Indiana desperately needs another 3-point shooter, a shot creator, and assist machine in the backcourt, and Clark checks all of those boxes.
—Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2023
Place cloves or a whole bulb, that has started to sprout, in a clear glass container (like a jar, drinking glass, or shot glass) positioned upright and fill it with just enough warm water so that less than half the clove or bulb is covered.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English sceot, scot; akin to Old High German scuz, Old Norse skot shot, Old English scēotan to shoot — more at shoot
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of shot was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing shot
Dictionary Entries Near shot
Cite this Entry
“Shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shot. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
shot
1 of 3 noun1
a
: an action of shooting
b
: an aimed discharge of a weapon (as a gun or cannon)
c
: a stroke or throw in a game
especially
: an attempt at scoring
d
: an injection of something (as a medicine or vaccine) into the body
penicillin shots
2
a
plural shot
: something sent by shooting
especially
: small lead or steel pellets forming a charge for a shotgun
b
: a heavy metal ball thrown for distance in the shot put
3
: the flight of a missile or the distance it travels : range
within rifle shot
4
: a person who shoots
a good shot
5
a
: attempt entry 2 sense 1, try
take another shot at the puzzle
b
: chance
has a good shot at winning
6
b
: a single portion of a movie or a television program shot by one camera without stopping
7
a
: a small measure or amount of alcoholic liquor
b
: a small amount applied at one time : dose
shot
2 of 3past and past participle of shoot
shot
3 of 3 adjective1
: marked or streaked with a different color
blue shot with silver
hair shot with gray
2
: brought to a state of ruin or uselessness
my nerves were shot
the tires are shot
Medical Definition
shot
1 of 2 noun
: an injection of a drug, immunizing substance, nutrient, or medicament
a tetanus shot
see booster shot, flu shot
shot
2 of 2past and past part of shoot
More from Merriam-Webster on shot
Nglish: Translation of shot for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of shot for Arabic Speakers
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