shot

SaySHOT/ʃɑt//ʃɒt/

Noun pluralshots

24 meanings of shot

Practice

1
fired atverb
Simple past and past participle of shoot. Use this form for shooting that already happened.
She shot three arrows at the target.
The hunter shot at the deer but missed.
UsageSay shot (not ~~incorrect: shooted~~): she shot, it was shot.
2
camera imagenouncountable or uncountable
A single photo, or a piece of film recorded without stopping the camera.
Like one picture you snap before the camera moves on.
She got a great shot of the sunset.
The director needed one more shot before lunch.
UsageSay take a shot or get a good shot.
Similarphoto, photograph, picture, image
Note
3
at goalnouncountable or uncountable
A try at scoring by sending a ball toward the goal.
Like aiming a ball at the net and hoping it goes in.
His shot sailed just over the crossbar.
She took a quick shot from outside the box.
UsageSay take a shot at goal.
Similarstrike, kick, effort, attempt
Note
4
chancenounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A chance or try at doing something.
Like getting one turn to throw a ball at a target.
Give it your best shot.
She finally got a shot at the lead role.
UsageSay a shot at something, or give it your best shot.
Similarchance, try, attempt, go (entry), crack
5
a firingnouncountable or uncountable
The firing of a gun, or the bullet that comes out of it.
Like the loud bang you hear the moment a gun goes off.
The shot echoed across the valley.
Her first shot missed the target completely.
Similargunshot, report, blast
6
injectionnounAustraliaCanadaUScountable or uncountable
A small amount of medicine put into your body with a needle.
Like a quick pinch from a needle that puts medicine inside you.
The nurse gave me a flu shot.
I need to get a shot before traveling abroad.
UsageSay get a shot or a flu shot.
Similarinjection, jab, vaccination, inoculation
Note
7
alcoholnouncountable or uncountable
A small amount of a strong drink, such as whisky, espresso coffee, or a health juice, often drunk in one go.
Like a tiny cup of strong drink you swallow all at once.
He ordered a shot of whiskey at the bar.
She drank the shot in one quick gulp.
UsageSay a shot of whiskey.
Similarmeasure, dram, nip, shooter
Note
8
throwing eventnoununcountable
The heavy metal ball thrown in the sport of shot put, or the sport itself.
She won the shot at the school sports day.
He trains for the shot every afternoon.
UsageSay the shot: she won the shot.
Note

Less common meanings

9
brokenadjectivecolloquial
Very worn out: a broken machine, or a person who is very tired or whose nerves are ruined.
Like an old toy that no longer works at all.
My old boots are completely shot.
The car's engine is shot and needs replacing.
UsageSay it's shot when a thing is worn out.
Similarbroken, ruined, worn, busted, kaput
Oppositeworking, functional, intact, sound
Note
10
rude commentnouncountable or uncountable
A critical or unkind remark aimed at someone.
Like a small sting from someone's words.
That was a cheap shot at her cooking.
He took a shot at my driving in front of everyone.
UsageSay take a shot at someone. A cheap shot is unfair.
Similardig, jab, swipe, barb, jibe
Oppositecompliment
Note
11
person's aimnouncountable or uncountable
A person who shoots, judged by how good their aim is.
My uncle is a great shot with a bow.
You need to be a good shot to win this game.
UsageSay a good shot or a bad shot.
Similarmarksman, shooter, sharpshooter
Note
12
pelletsnoununcountable
Small metal pellets or larger solid balls that are fired from guns or cannons.
Like a handful of tiny metal balls fired all at once.
The hunter loaded his gun with shot.
A spray of shot scattered across the field.
UsageSay lead shot, with no -s.
Similarpellets
13
punchnounslangUScountable or uncountable
A punch or hard hit to the body.
Like getting hit hard by a fist.
He took a shot to the ribs during the fight.
She landed a solid shot on his jaw.
UsageSay take a shot or throw a shot.
Similarpunch, blow, hit, swing
14
home runnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
In baseball, a home run.
Like scoring a few points with one big swing.
His two-run shot put the team ahead in the seventh inning.
She drove a solo shot deep into the right-field stands.
Similarhomer, blast, dinger
15
rid ofadjective
Free of something you wanted to get rid of.
Like finally throwing away a heavy bag you no longer have to carry.
I'm so glad to be shot of that leaky old apartment.
Once the lawsuit was settled, she was finally shot of the whole mess.
UsageSay be shot of something you are glad to lose.
Similarfree
Note
16
thanksinterjectioncolloquialNew Zealand
A casual way of saying thank you.
Shot for the ride home, I really owe you one.
You fixed it already? Shot, man.
UsageSay shot or shot for that to a friend.
Similarthanks, cheers, ta
17
color-changing clothadjective
Woven with threads of different colors so the cloth seems to change color in the light.
Like a soap bubble that shows different colors as you move it.
The curtains were cut from shot silk that shimmered blue and violet.
She admired a scarf of shot taffeta that changed color as she turned it.
UsageSay shot silk, or shot through with a color.
Similariridescent, changeable
Note
18
verbobsoletetransitive
To feed small metal balls to a horse to dishonestly hide that it has a breathing illness.
Note
19
verb
To load a gun with the metal balls that it fires.
20
noun
In US prisons, a written report that records a rule an inmate broke.
21
noun
One throw of a fishing net into the water, or the fish caught in it.
22
nounrare
In fishing, a spot in the water where nets are set.
23
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To sell illegal drugs, especially as a dealer.
24
nounarchaic
The part of a bill or shared cost that one person must pay, especially at an old inn or tavern.
Here no shots are where all sharers be.
1614, Homer, Homer’s Odysses

shot is a form of shoot

shoot, verb: To hit a person, animal, or target with a bullet or arrow from a gun or bow. Full entry

Forms: shootshoots he/she/itshooting -ing formshot past tense, past participle
Spelling: shoot → shot: irregular (no -ed)

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of shot apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 9, 15, 17

This is the past participle of the verb "shoot."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Shot is the past participle of shoot. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2–8, 10–14, 18

From Old English "sceot," from an older Proto-Germanic word.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Shot derives from Old English sceot. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word derives from Proto-Germanic. en.wiktionary.org