1with object Kill or wound (a person or animal) with a bullet or arrow.

1. 1.1no object Fire a bullet from a gun or discharge an arrow from a bow.
   he shot at me twice

   the troops were ordered to shoot to kill

   with object they shot a volley of arrows into the village

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Before he fires the third shot, Janie grabs the hidden rifle and they both shoot at each other.
   • The first man takes the rifle and shoots, the second man picks up the rifle when the first man falls and fires the rifle.
   • ‘We use it for sniping only, we are not shooting in all directions,’ Safouri said in a telephone interview.
   • As for the man in Miami, we don't even know if the air marshals shot at him with conventional bullets.
   • He injured one of them after shooting at their car, yet he walked free from court.
   • They're young, female and shooting from the hip.
   • Thumbs flick switch from safety to semi on the rifles and you raise your weapons, point and shoot three round bursts at where you think the enemy is, because you haven't seen them yet.
   • The army said that troops had shot at an armed man after coming under fire.
   • Suddenly, a man came running up the street and started shooting at the car.
   • Finally, an author has done some extensive homework instead of shooting from the hip!
   • The support troops lived in pretty comfortable camps and rarely got shot at.
   • If they can randomly shoot at cars and nothing happens to them, we have a security situation which is about to implode.
   • The last partisan was struggling to his feet as an awe-struck Nikolai finally regained the wits to lift his rifle and shoot.
   • Don't just shoot back with your rifle; blow it apart with the main gun of a tank.
   • Leroy shot at me, but there had only been one bullet in the gun and it only clicked.
   • Whoever was hiding up in the woods shot at them, the bullet sinking into the old wood of the dock.
   • The kids I see and eat with every day still want to help this country, in spite of getting shot at while doing it.
   • I made it to the corner but they opened fire on my first try, and shot at me, so I had to turn back.
   • Before stepping out of the way of the projectile's path, he managed to shoot!
   • Seiya shot at her but the bullets were absorbed by her shield and sent back at her.

   Synonyms

   fire (at/on), open fire (at/on), aim at, snipe at, let fly (at), blaze away

   bombard, shell

   discharge, fire, launch, let off, loose off, let fly, send forth, emit
2. 1.2no object, with adverbial Use a firearm with a specified degree of skill.
   we shot well against Spain

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The main purpose of firearms is not to gather meat or shoot in games, but to defend live and limb.
   • Born without arms or legs, this incredibly agile man used his stumps to ride a horse, fish, eat, and shoot with skill.
   • But melding these two types of skills, riding and shooting, is a great combination.
   • Why would you want it any different with a handgun, the most difficult firearm to shoot well?
   • A variety of styles leads the player from platforming to shooting to racing and so on.
   • These can be used at different facilities in order to upgrade your fighting, shooting and driving skills.
   • Foresight is the highest degree of creativity: it cannot be learned like shooting or driving.
   • He's strong, a good target man; he's got good skills and can shoot, especially with the left.
   • But Neale pointed out that in the play-offs, hard work is as much a skill as shooting and skating.
   • Your driving, shooting and flying skills progress with the game.
   • Here again, use whatever type firearm you shoot well and feel comfortable with.
3. 1.3 Cause (a gun) to fire.
   I learned to shoot a 9 mm pistol

   Example sentencesExamples

   • At drop off the teacher shoots a starting gun and I sprint from the building and peel out of the parking lot to go and do things.
   • She couldn't shoot a gun, but she could start a fire without a problem.
   • Because the movie depicts children shooting rifles, it has come under fire by certain anti-gun groups.
   • Mr. Henry ran away as their father was shooting a gun at him.
   • When you're shooting two guns at once, your aim flails about wildly in response to the recoil, making it difficult to be accurate.
   • After the girl tried to leave, Jamilmira shot his gun into the air to scare her.
   • My first experience shooting a gun came at age eleven.
   • The only thing the police could figure of the whole thing was that the guy shooting the gun had been intentionally aiming for him.
   • The pair along with Donald Ideson, who shoots air pistols, are due to compete in the Yorkshire County Championships at Bradford in December.
   • Michelle had jumped out of the way when the lights left and April shot her gun.
   • If you think you're tough enough to stomach what we've got to do, or you're good at shooting a gun, then your presence is welcome.
   • After this another hitman hopped out of a locker and starting shooting a huge shotgun.
   • Lydiard Park ranger Tom Murawicki said there have been teenagers shooting air rifles and BB guns in the park.
   • At about 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday local residents saw several small groups of youths shooting air rifles in an area where young children play and people walk their dogs.
   • So you never saw him shoot a gun, fire a weapon, right?
   • If he shot his gun at this angle, he would shoot through my shirt and into the ceiling.
   • Running for cover and throwing grenades and shooting a machine gun and cursing the enemy is what you've been trained to do your whole life.
   • For example, most males raised in the South have shot a gun before their thirteenth birthday.
   • Nat aimed the gun at a chipmunk that was sitting on a rock nearby, he shot the gun at it and the chipmunk fell to the ground.
   • If you shot a gun and everyone ran away as quickly as possible, the game wouldn't be as enjoyable.
4. 1.4with object and adverbial Damage or remove (something) with a bullet or missile.
   Guy, shoot their hats off

   they just missed my radiator and shot away my controls

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Unfortunately, right before he pulled the trigger, Nathan shot the gun out of his hand.
   • Shooting a knife thrown at you is significantly more difficult than shooting a missile launched at you.
   • Marksmen using high-powered rifles should shoot gas cylinders damaged by flames to prevent major disruption, according to fire chiefs.
   • The suspects first shot the car's left front tire, causing the vehicle to veer and hit a cigarette stall.
   • It would take too long to even take the time to pull back the receiver and slot a single bullet in to shoot his brains out with.
5. 1.5no object Hunt game with a gun.
   we go to Scotland to shoot every autumn

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It is an unpleasant irony that this lingering antagonism finds its focus in hunting rather than shooting.
   • People representing a wide variety of rural pursuits including fox hunting, shooting and coursing were in the middle of Leeds to answer questions from members of the public.
   • Foxes are classified as vermin in law, and their numbers must be controlled, whether by hunting, shooting or trapping.
   • So as bizarre as it may sound to the uninitiated, hunting, shooting and fishing actually promote and sustain the rich bio-diversity that we all admire in the countryside.
   • Fast train travel made the weekend country house party popular for shooting and hunting among the upper classes.
   • Some people argue that hunting is more cruel than shooting as some hunts last for 25 miles and up to 8 hours.
   • The author, a farmer who neither shoots nor hunts, explains here why in his view hunting is good for the countryside.
   • Throughout his life he maintained an interest in country ways including National Hunt racing, shooting and fly-fishing.
   • The collection will be of enormous interest to anyone who shoots, hunts or fishes.
   • Snaring has largely been replaced by shooting and 40 riders-and-hounds hunts have been disbanded.
   • He will not allow any distractions that may divert from hunting and shooting.
   • The country sports area alongside the lake will include hunting, shooting, fishing and gun dog scurry together with falconry and ferrets and a live smithing competition each day.
   • He also enjoyed the outdoor life and all its activities, particularly shooting and hunting.
   • On the other hand, I know there are a lot of folks living outside Manhattan who hunt or enjoy shooting.
   • Meanwhile, the Carlow Regional Game Council has called on all gun club members in the county to cease hunting and shooting until the foot and mouth crisis is resolved.
   • Admittedly, there are a lot of consumer products used by those who hunt and shoot that are only vaguely related to the sport.
   • So do we really need the long barrel for the reasonable ranges where we may hunt or shoot?
   • What provokes this post is that someone from the church is on the phone right now, mocking me for not being able to shoot or hunt.
   • He liked jazz, preferred informal dress, didn't much care for hunting and shooting, and was openly contemptuous of red carpets.
   • But hang on, aren't hunting, fishing and shooting also businesses?
6. 1.6shoot overno object Shoot game over (an estate or other area of countryside)
   at least 90 per cent of our hunting country is shot over

   Example sentencesExamples

   • All had permission to shoot over a wide area with the kind permission of land owners.
   • Actual shooting over grouse moors occurs on very few days per season and not at weekends or on public holidays.
   • Lead shot should not be used for any shooting over wetlands important for feeding waterfowl.
7. 1.7 Shoot game in or on (an estate, cover, etc.)
   Tom and her brothers were out shooting Ardfeochan

2Move or cause to move suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction.

1. 2.1with object Direct (a glance, question, or remark) at someone.
   with two objects Luke shot her a quick glance

   with direct speech ‘I can't believe what I'm hearing,’ she shot back

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Maddy's lips separated a little bit and she grinned before shooting another quick glance at Carver while replying.
   • He pointedly shot a questioning glance at Lino, nodding his head towards Mel and Jessica.
   • Michael recoiled as if the laughter was directed at him and shot a disturbed look at the man behind him.
   • Firearms enthusiasts have shot back at calls for ball bearing guns to be banned.
   • The first turned deathly pale and shot a quick glance at the other.
   • They slap their fellow males on the back, sprawl across sofas and shoot repeated glances at target females.
   • Carina gave a weak smile in return and shot a questioning look over at Toni.
   • Then she snapped her head away and shot a quick glance at the rest of the band.
   • Then he shot a questioning glance towards his superior, wondering if he should continue.
   • I shot a questioning look at my twin sister, who just beamed back at me innocently.
   • With boys and girls shooting questions left, right and centre, the organisers were pushed into defence.
   • Then after shooting another quick look at her companions, she attached an addendum to her prayer.
   • When we let go of each other, I was finally aware of the media as they shot questions left and right at dad and me.
   • With the India-New Zealand cricket match in the City, Derek perhaps felt it appropriate to shoot some cricket-related questions.
   • I remarked shooting a pointed glance at the stereo where someone was still supposedly singing.
   • The jeweler glanced up and shot a look at the saleswoman standing beside him.
   • I saw Mother shoot a warning glance over at me from the hedge garden.
   • She shot a quick glance at Ty, but he was looking the other way, towards the horses.
   • He shot a quick glance to Jake, who had the eyes of a hawk sizing up a rabbit.
   • Michelle smiled at him and tentatively shot a glance at Grace before replying.

   Synonyms

   direct, turn, throw, send, dart, bestow, give
2. 2.2no object, in imperative Used to invite a comment or question.
   ‘May I just ask you one more question?’ ‘Shoot.’

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Then you say, "now can i ask you a question?", then Dominic says "okay, shoot".
   • Okay, shoot. But don't ask me who the vice president of India is. I hope you know I don’t really read news papers that much.
3. 2.3no object (of a pain) move with a sharp stabbing sensation.
   Claudia felt a pain shoot through her chest

   figurative a pang of regret shot through her

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The pain can shoot down your lower back into your buttocks, or down your leg.
   • To make matters even worse, sharp needles of pain were shooting across her eyes and the soup felt like lead in her stomach.
   • Groggy farmers and their families awoke with throats, eyes and lungs seared and burning, pain shooting into their chests.
   • He could tell by the new pain that shot from his feet to the rest of his leg.
   • The blood thrummed dully in her eardrums, echoing throughout the caverns and sending pain shooting to her skull.
   • As I reached up to press the elevator button, I winced at the crackling pain shooting down from my shoulder along my arm.
   • And, if she sleeps on the right side of her face, she wakes up with pain shooting from near her nose up to her temple.
   • However, he was having excruciating electric shock-like pains shooting from his hand to his elbow.
   • You may also feel a lump in your throat and intense pain shooting into your ears when you swallow.
   • She clutched her side, feeling a sharp pain shoot through her body.
   • Even worse was that sometimes the pain seemed to shoot into both shoulders.
   • There was pain shooting from her lower stomach to her head.
   • I felt pain shoot through my body and a cold felling.
   • The loosely fitted arm came off, and a blinding pain shot down my own arm.
   • By now the pain was shooting from my hip all the way down my leg to a foot that had gone partially numb.
   • My hip finally realized I'd fallen, sending a pain shooting down my leg.
   • I groan and sigh in failure, nauseous with pain shooting from my extremities.
   • I could feel the pain shooting everywhere inside me.
   • He gasps as pain shoots down his right arm to his wrist and he drops the door stop.
   • Moments later, I felt a horrible hunger pain shoot through my body.
4. 2.4no object Extend sharply in a particular direction.
   a road that seemed to just shoot upwards at a terrifying angle

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Sure enough, her father's Gallons Pumped display showed a blur of numbers, shooting ever upwards.
   • Once things slowed down, retrenchment became a serious business just as health care and education expenses began to shoot upwards.
   • A violent gale shot upwards, lifting clots of mud into the air, stirring his clothing and hair.
   • The ground is shooting upwards, out of the grave, being caught by small, outstretched hands.
   • Lacking foothills, it appears to shoot straight up into the sky, its jagged granite peaks floating above the clouds.
   • My reading age shot upwards and I was reading books for eight-, nine-, ten-year-olds within just a couple of years.
   • Kira yelled as a beam of black light erupted from the centre of the Archives, shooting upwards until it was lost in the clouds.
   • Not surprisingly, many listed retailers saw profits shoot upwards as well, tripling in some cases.
   • When your known risk shoots upward based on new knowledge, you either eat the cost or you get subsidized.
   • The water stopped shooting upward and the holes in the walls closed up.
   • One city seems to have a giant beam of light shooting upward, visible as a bright phosphorescent glow, and then away, gone.
   • With oil and gas prices shooting upward, it's no wonder the sector is filled with profit-gushers.
   • Architecturally its bigness was exaggerated by the close spacing of the aluminium structure shooting upwards from the Gothic arches at the base.
   • Players will speed through tracks that twist, turn, loop, corkscrew, shoot upward, drop off, dead end, and more.
   • Jeff noticed out of the corner of his eye as a patch of sand shot upwards
   • Then it suggests that there be a uniform PDS price virtually at acquisition cost, thus allowing BPL prices to shoot upwards.
5. 2.5with object Move (a bolt) to fasten or unfasten a door.
   she shot the bolt on the bathroom door

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The effort necessary to shoot a bolt from within a lock is drawn from Houdini the medium, but it must not be thought that this is the only means by which he can escape from his prison.
   • The sterling barkeep takes his large key over to the door and locks it, shooting the bolts home with a quiet trepidation.
   • When he and his mother had gone out into the darkness, my father shut the front door and shot the big brass bolt.
6. 2.6with object (of a boat) sweep swiftly down or under (rapids, a waterfall, or a bridge)
   those of you looking for adventure can shoot the rapids

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Now it's time to head to the great outdoors and scale a cliff, shoot some rapids or hike to the peak.
   • ‘It's like balancing an egg on a spoon while shooting the rapids,’ said Graham Hill, the English driver.
   • They will travel after taking their GCSE's and take part in lots of different sporting activities from tobogganing to shooting the rapids and boat trips to get close to dolphins and whales.
   • I'm trying to hold back a whole raft of feelings, but they keep bobbing and pitching to the surface, threatening to break loose and shoot the rapids once and for all.
   • Rowing through a bridge, every sound of the boat echoes, and shooting a bridge adds a burst of power through the boat.
   • In one case, we hiked a little up the Little Colorado River to shoot some rapids ‘body-style’ in our life jackets.
   • Of course, few things beat the thrill of taking a craft out on the white water and shooting the rapids.
   • It is a river; you can swim from bank to bank, you can shoot the rapids, but you cannot crawl out; if you do, you're dead, like a fish out of water.
7. 2.7informal with object (of a motor vehicle) pass (a traffic light at red)
   drivers could lose their licences for shooting too many red lights

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I recently received a ticket for shooting a red light in Phoenix, Arizona.
   • In a train crash in 1990, the driver was held to blame for over-shooting a red light.
   • The same week, a very experienced and fit cyclist mate permanently damaged his arm after shooting a red light into the path of an oncoming car.
8. 2.8Cricket no object (of a ball) dart along the ground after pitching.
   a ball pitching on that spot would sometimes shoot

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The ball shot to the off side.
   • The ball shot through my legs and we managed to scramble two byes.

3no object (in soccer, hockey, basketball, etc.) kick, hit, or throw the ball or puck in an attempt to score a goal.

1. 3.1informal with object Make (a specified score) for a round of golf.
   in the second round he shot a 65

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The Australian shot a final round of 63 for a 26-under-par total of 262 to secure his second win of the season and third European Tour title.
   • Melissa Nawa improved her game, shooting an amazing six-over-par 78 but Michael Chiluba bowed out of the competition.
   • Meanwhile, England’s Lee Westwood shot a four-under-par 67 yesterday.
2. 3.2North American informal with object Play a game of (pool or dice)
   although we never shot dice, my friends and I played every variation of poker

   Example sentencesExamples

   • If you suffer from anxiety when you shoot pool, remember that you are not alone.
   • Someone calls Elisabeth Irwin's name, and she goes over to shoot some pool.
   • We went to shoot pool with mutual friends a few times after school and he was always fun to be with.
   • The very next night, Dave dropped by the poker room and casually mentioned that he was thinking about going and shooting the dice a bit.
   • We went into town and ate, then went to shoot some pool.
   • Show me an accountant that shoots pool, and I'll show you a game that is carefully calculated.
   • Kevin shot one of the best games of his life, and with Erle right at his heels, Herb and Bob had no chance in the match.
   • If you want to shoot pool for the pure joy of it, find a team that shares your attitude.
   • Alex saw Callan shooting pool in the far corner by himself, so decided to join him.
   • It showed, as Dale Murphy shot one of the best games of his life coming in with 43 points.
   • The scene they walked in on was Larry shooting some pool at his gray and glass pool table with one of his skater friends.
   • Once upon a time there was an old artist who loved to shoot pool and play with computers.
   • In one of his scenes, the camera focuses in on the band gathered in a circle as if they are shooting dice.
   • So the country saw the diamonds sometimes, but it also saw the small woman with a pint of beer in her hand and liked that; the small woman shooting pool and they liked that.
   • The two plan to use all of their knowledge of cardsharking, pool shooting, and rolling dice at an unprecedented worldwide gathering of hustlers.
   • Visitors can choose to simply relax with a glass of beer, shoot some pool, or play a game of darts.
   • The setting was the pool room where me and my boy were shooting some pool (I know I was busy, but I needed a break).
   • They're nice guys, and perfectly fun to shoot a little pool with, though.
   • If I'm not shooting some pool, I'm at the nail salon getting a manicure.
   • I don't know if he could shoot pool, although I had the feeling finding out could prove expensive.

4with object Film or photograph (a scene, film, etc.)

5no object (of a plant or seed) send out buds or shoots; germinate.

1. 5.1 (of a bud or shoot) appear; sprout.
   they move up into the stem where they induce buds to shoot

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Spiky vines shot out of the grass.
   • Near the base each cord has a short branch shooting upward on its right side.
   • I pictured the vines shooting out and finally felt the warmth that meant the magic was coming.

   Synonyms

   sprout, put forth shoots, put forth buds, bud, burgeon, germinate

   technical pullulate

6informal with object Inject oneself or another person with (a narcotic drug)

7with object Plane (the edge of a board) accurately.

1A young branch or sucker springing from the main stock of a tree or other plant.

2An occasion when a group of people hunt and shoot game for sport.

1. 2.1British An area of land used for shooting game.
   we rented a rough shoot of about a thousand acres

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Game farmers hatch out eggs and day old chicks or poults are delivered to the shoot depending on the model they are operating.
   • There is another similar shoot up the same valley.
   • The game shoots of the area supply plenty of pheasant in season, but other game, such as grouse, has suffered due to a succession of wet winters.
2. 2.2 A shooting match.
   activities include a weekly rifle shoot

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I also agree that Victoria has been jobbing, due to the fact that if there were a shoot match, the outcome would likely be much different.
   • He won the 2002 air rifle world title in a nerve-wracking shoot off with Jie Li of China.
   • On Sunday, the Classic Calibre Lever Action Postal Rifle shoot is at the SSAA range, Rifle Range Rd, Casino.
   • A general meeting held recently, the last before the annual clay pigeon shoot to finalise arrangements.
   • The races test competitors' teamwork skills, skiing and physical and mental strength as well as accuracy in the rifle shoot.
   • Burridge will now compete with the top 20 scorers in a shoulder-to-shoulder shoot at Bookham Rifle Club on April 6.
   • Rangers from across the Baffin compete in a rifle shoot competition held during the exercises

3An occasion when a professional photographer takes photographs or when a film or video is being made.

4

5A rapid in a stream.

Used as a euphemism for ‘shit’