shot

1 of 3

noun

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
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
3
a
: the distance that a missile is or can be thrown
b
4
: a charge to be paid : scot
5
: one that shoots
especially : marksman
6
a
: attempt, try
give it a shot
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
especially : swipe sense 2
a parting shot
8
a
: a single photographic exposure
especially : snapshot
b
: a single sequence of a movie 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
11
shot plural : sprinkles, jimmies

shot

2 of 3

past tense and past participle of shoot

shot

3 of 3

adjective

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
Phrases
a shot
: for each one : apiece
like a shot
: very rapidly
shot in the arm shot in the dark
1
: a wild guess
2
: an attempt that has little chance of success

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
Noun
Casey Krueger did well to carry the ball through the right wing and slipped a pass inside to Shaw, who got past the Iceland defenders with deft dribbling before poking a shot underneath the goalkeeper. Manasi Pathak, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 That’s when the man holding the flowers pulled out a gun and killed her with a shot to the head. Hilda Dzietror, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024 Arkansas State Police troopers who on Oct. 11 shot and killed a Texas man to stop him from driving against traffic at the end of a high-speed pursuit on U.S. 67 acted lawfully, a Jackson County prosecutor ruled. Grant Lancaster, arkansasonline.com, 25 Oct. 2024 According to a survey from Ohio State Wexner Medical Center last month, less than half of Americans were planning to get their COVID or flu shots this season. Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shot 

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

Dictionary Entries Near shot

Cite this Entry

“Shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shot. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

shot

1 of 3 noun
1
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 3

past and past participle of shoot

shot

3 of 3 adjective
1
: 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 2

past and past part of shoot

More from Merriam-Webster on shot

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