shot

noun \ ˈshät \

Updated on: 1 Dec 2017

Definition of shot

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 : blast 5a

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 : range, reach

4 : a charge to be paid : scot

5 : one that shoots; especially : marksman

6 a : attempt, try

give it a shot

b : guess, conjecture

c : chance 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 2

a parting shot

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

11 shot plural : sprinkles, jimmies

— a shot

: for each one : apiece

— like a shot

: very rapidly

— shot in the arm

: stimulus, boost

— shot in the dark

1 : a wild guess

2 : an attempt that has little chance of success

See shot defined for English-language learners

See shot defined for kids

Examples of shot in a Sentence

cannon operators often had to use several shots to figure out the range of their targets
let's take another shot at the puzzle

Recent Examples of shot from the Web

His inaccurate throws, several of which never gave his receivers a shot to win, buried the Texans early.

— zak keefer, Indianapolis Star, "Colts escape against Texans, hold on for 20-14 victory," 5 Nov. 2017
Bella shared an action shot on her Instagram story earlier this week that depicted her and Kendall yelling at one another on a balcony overlooking the water.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Bella Hadid Posts Instagram Fighting With Kendall Jenner," 5 Nov. 2017
Racine Prairie managed just eight more shots the rest of the way but was able to hold on thanks to some terrific defense of its own.

— todd rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Racine Prairie 1, Sturgeon Bay 0," 5 Nov. 2017
Nash deflected a shot from Ryan McDonagh past Luongo from in front of the crease.

— the associated press, New York Times, "Rangers Beat the Panthers as Kevin Shattenkirk Scores Twice," 4 Nov. 2017
The hierarchy of romantic pics, for me, goes: Selfies together, followed by photographic evidence of a romantic getaway, and finally, the most aggressive photographic display of affection out there, the morning shot.

— beca grimm, Glamour, "The Surprising Nuances of Going 'Instagram Official'," 2 Nov. 2017
Students, after all, don’t want to sacrifice their shot at a degree to stop, say, Ben Shapiro or Charles Murray from speaking.

— david french, National Review, "Progressives Are Now Arguing that the First Amendment Is Profoundly Limited on College Campuses," 27 Oct. 2017
Against medical advice, kids defied one another to get their lips to swell using shot glasses as vacuums.

— heather schwedel, Slate Magazine, "The pretentious “challenge” taking over Facebook is neither a challenge nor a good meme.," 25 Oct. 2017
But Netflix is plowing ahead anyway, and this series is, perhaps, the character’s best shot at on-screen fame.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "What’s New on Netflix in November," 24 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of shot

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

shot Synonyms

Synonyms

blasting, discharge, firing

Related Words

potshot; barrage, blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, broadside, burst, cannonade, drumfire, fusillade, hail, salvo, shower, storm, volley

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

shot

Definition of shot

past tense and past participle of shoot

shot

adjective

Definition of shot

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

See shot defined for English-language learners

Examples of shot in a Sentence

The tires on the car are shot.

Recent Examples of shot from the Web

In a key vote, a majority of the founding nine voted 5-4 against contributing an additional $1 million each into the effort after an initial $5 million contribution from a big-shot Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

— vanityfair.com, "How the Media Let Itself Get Crushed by Facebook," 11 July 2017
The Trojans would have an ace playmaker under center to drive a playoff push in 2017 and a hot-shot prospect ready to succeed him.

— chris johnson, SI.com, "When quarterback recruiting isn't as simple as it should be for USC," 26 June 2017
Cleveland agreed last year to pay $6 million to the family of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old fatally shot while playing with a replica gun.

— mitch smith, New York Times, "Philando Castile Family Reaches $3 Million Settlement," 26 June 2017
A 23-year-old man was shot buttocks, and a second, a 24-year-old man, was also shot in the foot, police said.

— jessica anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Second man charged in West Baltimore shooting last week," 24 May 2017
The researchers bounced shot radio waves into the glacier.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Antarctica’s Blood Falls Helps Unravel the Inner Workings of Glaciers," 3 May 2017
Nolan got the Kings on the scoreboard with 2:01 left in the second, rifling a shot top shelf from outside the left circle.

— Orange County Register, "Kings stifled by Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist in 3-2 loss," 23 Jan. 2017
Instead, Trump relied on some bank-shot logic — some might called it trickle-down — that easing the tax burden on businesses of all sizes will encourage them to invest more in their operations, including their workers, who’d see wages rise faster.

— tory newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Trump becomes pitchman-in-chief on taxes," 31 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of shot

1763

SHOT Defined for English Language Learners

shot

noun

Definition of shot for English Language Learners

: an act of shooting a gun
: the objects (called ammunition) that are shot from cannons and other old-fashioned weapons
: a person who shoots a gun

shot

adjective

Definition of shot for English Language Learners

: in a very bad condition
of a fabric : having threads of a different color woven in
: having a particular color, quality, feature, etc., throughout

SHOT Defined for Kids

shot

noun \ ˈshät \

Definition of shot for Students

1 : the act of shooting

The shot missed.

2 plural shot : a bullet, ball, or pellet for a gun or cannon

3 : ²attempt, try

Take another shot at the puzzle.

4 : ¹chance 4

You have a shot at winning.

5 : the flight of a projectile or the distance it travels : range

They were within rifle shot.

6 : a person who shoots

That hunter is a good shot.

7 : a heavy metal ball thrown for distance in a track-and-field contest ( shot put )

8 : an act of hitting, throwing, or kicking a ball or puck toward or into a goal

9 : an injection of something (as medicine) into the body

10 : ¹photograph

shot

Definition of shot for Students

past tense and past participle of shoot

Medical Dictionary

shot

noun \ ˈshät \

medical Definition of shot

: an injection of a drug, immunizing substance, nutrient, or medicament

a tetanus shot

— see booster shot, flu shot

shot

medical Definition of shot

past and past part of shoot

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Origin and Etymology of shot

shot Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

shot

Definition of shot

shot

Definition of shot

Examples of shot in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shot from the Web

First Known Use of shot

SHOT Defined for English Language Learners

shot

Definition of shot for English Language Learners

shot

Definition of shot for English Language Learners

SHOT Defined for Kids

shot

Definition of shot for Students

shot

Definition of shot for Students

Medical Dictionary

shot

medical Definition of shot

shot

medical Definition of shot

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