bolt

Definition of boltnext
1
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

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2
3
4
as in to exclaim
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling bolted out the cuss word without thinking

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5
as in to inhale
to swallow or eat greedily the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bolt Boxes are typically bolted into concrete or chained in place. Jasmine Mendez follow, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 Cole Tomas Allen was a 31-year-old mechanical engineer from Torrance, California, who traveled to Washington, wrote a manifesto, and bolted through security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026 ResOps and the System of Record for AI When the architecture is this dynamic, resilience cannot be a feature bolted to the side of the platform. Pranay Ahlawat, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 Neto bolted home with a feet-first slide. Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
Verb
  • The noon filing deadline represented the last chance for candidates to jump into the competitive contests ahead of the August primaries.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
  • In one particularly embarrassing incident for the agency, a man not only jumped the fence but got to the front door of the White House and entered before being apprehended.
    Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Its most recent 54th run was record-breaking, the biggest marathon in history, with 132 countries represented, 59,226 finishers and by far the highest number of spectators in every neighborhood who supported and cheered runners on a route that races through all five boroughs.
    Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • On the lawn of Jim Gilliam Park on Saturday, supporters from across the city chanted Pratt’s name, took selfies in front of black campaign vans with his hummingbird logo and ate cookies decorated with his face as kids raced around on scooters and played with the handful of dogs attending.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Starship and Blue Moon both have a ways to go before NASA will certify the vehicles to fly astronauts, so any time lost on that front by Blue Origin could further narrow NASA's options and increase the risk of setbacks to the agency's lunar landing timeline.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 3 June 2026
  • To better understand the challenges Blue Origin now faces, Ars spoke with several SpaceX veterans who experienced the AMOS-6 failure and worked the long days afterward to get the Falcon 9 rocket flying and rebuild the shattered facility at Space Launch Complex-40.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Stewart exclaimed, referring to his children.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
  • Lyra donned her purple-and-pink mask, exclaiming at the colorful angelfish darting between her legs.
    Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • The volatile organic compound can cause eye and skin irrigation as well as coughing, wheezing, headache or shortness of breath if inhaled.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 30 May 2026
  • Infection occurs when people inhale particles from the urine, feces or saliva of infected mice and rats.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • The scale of what is emerging in China’s northwestern desert has left even seasoned analysts startled.
    Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
  • The spray of water should startle any squirrels, deer, or other wildlife trying to sneak fruit from your tree.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Hilton has demanded Governor Newsom create an emergency corps to speed up ballot counting, a request Newsom's office dismissed.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 6 June 2026
  • Ramsay speeds through many of the action shots to instead focus on Joe’s psyche.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • He was spotted ducking down in a field as traffic passed by and fled before he was found in a small cave, police have said.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 June 2026
  • If your husband can limit his exposure to them without having to flee his own house, the situation may feel less awkward.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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