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Definition of shotnext
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as in firing
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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as in photo
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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as in shooter
a person skilled in shooting at a target a soldier who's an excellent shot with a rifle

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

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as in guess
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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as in opportunity
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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shot

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verb

past tense of shoot
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as in blasted
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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as in photographed
to take a photograph of shooting the lakeside scene while the light lasted

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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 shot
Noun
The Penguins opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game, thanks to Elmer Soderblom's first playoff goal on the Penguins' first shot of the game to take a 1-0 lead. Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026 He’s taken some really good shots, and he’s made some, he’s missed some. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Another person died during the attack after being inadvertently shot by police. Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 The film was shot on location in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nassau, Bahamas, Wellington, Florida, Miami, and Cozumel, Mexico. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shot
Noun
  • The Red Sox have issued eight fewer challenges than any other team, but Alex Cora, who was fired on Saturday, said before his firing that he wasn’t bothered by the low rates.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • According to the space startup, this included a record-breaking 300-second burn—the longest duration hot firing of any RDRE engine yet.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Cunningham was 13-for-23 from the field, made all 14 of his free throw attempts and added five assists.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • When scientists initially studied attempts to learn while sleeping, the results seemed promising.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The information appears next to an April 26 Navy photo that shows Boxer transiting the Surigao Straight, roughly 4,000 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The photo choice and subtitle sing.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 30 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
  • In addition, however, many pitched their guesses as to who the governor was referring to, providing a pretty solid lists of potential candidates for coronation.
    Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Which company will win the AI race is anybody’s guess.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.
    Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • What once felt like an opportunity to close has become something closer to a necessity.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • O’Neal, the daughter of four-time NBA champion and Naismith Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, entered the portal April 14 after two seasons at UF; former head coach Kelly Rae Finley was fired by administration in March after five seasons at the helm.
    Caroline Makauskas, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The next night, Russia fired nineteen ballistic missiles, twenty-five cruise missiles, and six hundred and fifty-nine drones.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Within two minutes of checking in Sunday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Scheierman drilled a three and pulled down two offensive rebounds.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
  • One out later, Carruthers drilled a two-out RBI single to center to stretch the lead to 5-1.
    Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shot. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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