shoot
shoot — verb
1. To use a gun to send a bullet, or a bow to send an arrow, usually aiming at a pe
To use a gun to send a bullet, or a bow to send an arrow, usually aiming at a person, animal, or target and possibly hitting or injuring them.
The hunter aimed carefully and shot at the wild boar.
shoot at + target
Naoko accidentally shot herself in the foot while cleaning the rifle.
During the battle, three soldiers were shot and taken to the hospital.
passive: be shot
Obi raised his bow and shot an arrow straight at the round target.
shoot + arrow
The security guard fired a warning shot but did not want to shoot anyone.
- shoot at
- shoot someone/something
- shoot a gun/rifle/bow
- shot in the leg/arm/head
- shoot to kill
- spare
to choose not to kill or harm when one could
Grammar Patterns
shoot + at + target
shoot + target
shoot + weapon
Usage Note
Frequently used with at to indicate the direction of fire (shoot at something) without confirming a hit, or transitively (shoot something) when the target is struck.
Common Mistakes
2. In team sports such as basketball, football, or hockey, to send the game piece —
In team sports such as basketball, football, or hockey, to send the game piece — a ball or a puck — toward the scoring area in order to earn points.
Minho shot the ball from just outside the three-point line.
shoot + ball (basketball context)
Maeve shot at the goal but the goalkeeper caught the ball easily.
With only seconds left on the clock, Christopher shot and scored the winning point.
Padma passed the puck across the ice, and Emre shot it straight into the net.
shoot + puck (hockey context)
- shoot the ball
- shoot at the goal
- shoot and score
- shoot on target
- shoot for the basket
Grammar Patterns
shoot + ball/puck
shoot at + goal
shoot and score
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (WEAPON): in sports contexts, shoot has no connection to firearms. The object is a ball, puck, or similar game item aimed at scoring points.
3. To take part in the sport of basketball, especially in an informal or practice s
To take part in the sport of basketball, especially in an informal or practice setting rather than a full organised game.
Joshua and his friends went to the park to shoot after school.
shoot = play basketball informally
Sirin spends every Saturday morning shooting at the local court with her brother.
Do you want to shoot some hoops before dinner this evening?
collocation: shoot some hoops
The children grabbed a ball and headed to the playground to shoot.
- shoot hoops
- shoot some hoops
- go shoot
- shoot around
- play basketball
more explicit and neutral in register
- shoot hoops
the fuller idiomatic expression; slightly more conversational
Grammar Patterns
shoot (no object)
shoot some hoops
Usage Note
Almost always intransitive and informal. The fuller phrase shoot hoops or shoot some hoops is more common than using shoot alone to mean play basketball.
4. To travel at great speed straight along a path or toward a specific spot, as if
To travel at great speed straight along a path or toward a specific spot, as if suddenly launched from one point to another.
A small cat shot across the street and disappeared into the bushes.
shoot across + place
Mira watched the meteor shoot through the night sky before it faded from view.
Élise felt a sharp pain shoot up her arm after lifting the heavy box.
shoot up (pain sensation)
The roller coaster shot down the steep track at terrifying speed.
Flames suddenly shot out from the back of the old engine.
- shoot across
- shoot through
- shoot past
- shoot up
- shoot out
- shoot down
- creep
to move slowly and carefully, often with stealth
Grammar Patterns
shoot + adverb/preposition (direction)
shoot + across/past/through/up/down
Usage Note
Usually paired with a directional adverb or preposition (across, past, through, up, down, out). Can describe physical movement, light, or bodily sensation such as pain.
5. To travel quickly past or through a particular point, obstacle, or area, often w
To travel quickly past or through a particular point, obstacle, or area, often with a sense of passing by or traversing something.
The speedboat shot past the dock and out into the open lake.
shoot past + place
Experienced kayakers love to shoot the rapids on this dangerous river.
shoot the rapids (fixed phrase)
Naoko shot through the airport terminal to reach her gate before the flight left.
The racing car shot past Emre at over three hundred kilometres per hour.
- shoot past
- shoot through
- shoot the rapids
- shoot a gap
- zoom past
informal; emphasises speed with a whistling quality
- fly past
suggests smoothness as well as speed
- race through
suggests urgency and active effort
Grammar Patterns
shoot + past/through + noun
shoot the rapids
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 4 (DART): sense 4 focuses on the speed and direction of movement, whereas this sense specifically involves going past or through a point, obstacle, or area.
6. To operate a photographic or video device in order to create moving pictures, a
To operate a photographic or video device in order to create moving pictures, a television show, or still images — recording whatever is in front of the lens.
The director shot the entire scene in a single take without any cuts.
shoot + scene/film
Padma shot hundreds of photos during her trip to the mountains.
This documentary was shot on a small smartphone over two years.
passive: was shot on [device]
Christopher spent the summer shooting a short film about his hometown.
The wedding photographer shot beautiful portraits of the couple at sunset.
- shoot a film
- shoot a scene
- shoot photos
- shoot on location
- shoot an episode
- shoot a documentary
- film
specifically creating a movie or video; less common for still photography
- record
broader in scope — can include audio and video without a traditional camera
- photograph
limited to still images rather than moving pictures
Grammar Patterns
shoot + film/movie/scene
shoot + subject
shoot on + camera/phone/film
Usage Note
Common in filmmaking and photography. The past participle is shot (not 'shooted') — a frequent learner error. Can take a direct object (shoot a scene) or be used with on (shot on digital film).
Common Mistakes
7. to join in a pastime where you hit a ball across a table (like pool) or throw di
to join in a pastime where you hit a ball across a table (like pool) or throw dice (like craps)
Every Friday night, Sahil and his friends shoot pool at the local bar.
Ryan lost twenty dollars shooting craps at the casino last weekend.
collocation: shoot craps
The old-timers at the club spend their afternoons shooting dice in the back room.
collocation: shoot dice
Hao learned to shoot pool from his grandfather when he was twelve.
- shoot pool
- shoot craps
- shoot dice
- play
more general — shoot specifies particular table or dice games
Grammar Patterns
shoot + game name (pool, craps, dice)
shoot (without object, for dice games)
Usage Note
Often used with the name of the game as the direct object: shoot pool, shoot craps, shoot dice. Without an object, it usually refers to rolling dice in craps.
Common Mistakes
8. to put an illegal substance into your bloodstream through a needle
to put an illegal substance into your bloodstream through a needle
The documentary showed how addicts shoot heroin in abandoned buildings.
Police arrested a man who was shooting up in the public restroom.
phrasal verb: shoot up
Recovery programs help people stop shooting drugs and start new lives.
A young couple lost their home after one of them started shooting heroin.
- shoot heroin
- shoot up
- inject
neutral register — shoot is informal and strongly associated with illegal drug use
Grammar Patterns
shoot + drug (heroin, cocaine)
shoot up (intransitive phrasal verb)
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'up' as an intransitive phrasal verb ('shoot up'). The object is always an illegal drug. For medical injections, use sense 10 instead.
Common Mistakes
9. to send words, looks, light, or flame outward with quick, strong force — for exa
to send words, looks, light, or flame outward with quick, strong force — for example, shooting a sudden question at someone or flames from a damaged engine
The teacher shot a disapproving look at the students who were whispering.
collocation: shoot a look
Takeshi shot questions at the speaker faster than he could answer them.
pattern: shoot + questions + at + person
A flame shot out from the engine, and the pilot hit the alarm.
intransitive use: flame shoots out
Élise shot back a reply before anyone else in the room could speak.
pattern: shoot back + reply
Christopher shot a quick glance at the clock on the wall.
- shoot a look
- shoot a glance
- shoot questions
- shoot flames
- shoot back
Grammar Patterns
shoot + noun phrase (look, question, flame) + prepositional phrase
shoot back + reply
Usage Note
The subject can be a person (sending looks or words) or an object (emitting light or flame). Common direct objects include: look, glance, question, flame, reply.
Common Mistakes
10. to put a liquid medicine or vaccine into a person's or animal's body using a nee
to put a liquid medicine or vaccine into a person's or animal's body using a needle — for example, a nurse shooting a painkiller into a patient's arm
The nurse shot the vaccine into a child's arm before she felt any pain.
pattern: shoot + vaccine + into + body part
The veterinarian shot the sedative into the horse's neck muscle.
Bilal needs to be shot with insulin every morning before breakfast.
passive: be shot with insulin
Sirin watched the doctor shoot the anesthetic into her mother's IV line.
- shoot a vaccine
- shoot insulin
- shoot anesthetic
- shoot with a needle
- inject
more formal and general — shoot is colloquial
Grammar Patterns
shoot + substance + into + person/body part
shoot + person + with + substance
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 8: this sense is neutral and medical, referring to vaccines, painkillers, or other legal medicines. Sense 8 is limited to illegal drugs.
Common Mistakes
11. to produce new stems or leaves that grow out from a plant's existing body — for
to produce new stems or leaves that grow out from a plant's existing body — for example, a rose bush shooting new branches after spring rain
The rose bush shot up new green branches after the spring rain.
collocation: shoot up (of plant growth)
Ayana noticed that her bamboo plant had shot a new stem overnight.
The old tree shot out fresh leaves even though its trunk was hollow.
pattern: shoot out + leaves
Eve's tomato plants shot up so fast they needed bigger pots.
- shoot up
- shoot out
- shoot new branches
- shoot new leaves
Grammar Patterns
shoot up/out (of plants)
shoot + new + stems/branches/leaves
Usage Note
Intransitive. Often used with 'up' or 'out' to describe rapid plant growth. The subject is always a plant or plant part.
Common Mistakes
shoot down
phrasal verbTo cause something to fall by hitting it with a bullet or missile, or to reject an idea or proposal strongly.
The fighter jet shot down the enemy drone.
The committee shot down my proposal without discussion.
shoot for
phrasal verbTo aim or strive for a particular goal or achievement.
We are shooting for a 20% increase in sales this quarter.
She shot for the top prize and won it.
shoot off
phrasal verbTo leave quickly or suddenly, or to fire a gun or other weapon.
He shot off to the store before it closed.
The soldier shot off his rifle as a signal.
shoot through
phrasal verbTo leave a place quickly, especially to avoid trouble.
When the police arrived, the thief shot through the back door.
I need to shoot through before the meeting starts.
shoot up
phrasal verbTo increase rapidly in size or amount, or to inject an illegal drug.
Prices have shot up dramatically this year.
He started shooting up heroin at a young age.
Used to say that something is extremely easy to do.
For an expert chef, baking this cake is like shooting fish in a barrel.
Winning that game was like shooting fish in a barrel for our team.
To look at someone in an angry or annoyed way.
Mia shot her brother a dirty look when he interrupted her.
Did you see the dirty look the teacher gave Tom?
have shot your bolt
idiomTo have used all your energy, resources, or opportunities and have nothing left.
After running the marathon, he had shot his bolt and could barely walk.
The company had shot its bolt and couldn't afford new equipment.
To have a casual and relaxed conversation.
We sat on the porch, shooting the breeze about old times.
Diego and Sara spent the afternoon shooting the bull at the cafe.
shoot from the hip
idiomTo speak or act quickly without thinking carefully first.
Brian tends to shoot from the hip, which sometimes gets him into trouble.
Instead of shooting from the hip, take a moment to consider your answer.
To fight with guns until one side is defeated or killed.
The outlaws decided to shoot it out with the sheriff.
The two gangs shot it out in the abandoned warehouse.
shoot the messenger
idiomTo blame the person who delivers bad news instead of the person responsible.
When Maya told her boss the project failed, he shot the messenger.
Don't shoot the messenger; I'm just reporting what happened.
To talk too much or too proudly about something, often revealing secrets.
He shot his mouth off about his promotion, annoying his coworkers.
Stop shooting your mouth off about your plans; someone might steal them.
shoot the rapids
idiomTo travel in a boat over a fast-flowing, rocky part of a river.
The adventurous group decided to shoot the rapids in a raft.
Shooting the rapids requires skill and a strong boat.
To become famous very quickly, especially as a performer.
The young singer shot to fame after her first album sold millions.
He shot to stardom with his role in the blockbuster movie.
To do something that harms your own chances of success.
By arriving late, she shot herself in the foot during the interview.
He shot himself in the foot by insulting the client.
shoot — noun
1. a new, young stem or growth that appears on a plant, rising from a seed that has
a new, young stem or growth that appears on a plant, rising from a seed that has begun to grow or from an existing stem or root
After the spring rain, tiny green shoots appeared in Mira's vegetable garden.
countable: a shoot / shoots
The gardener carefully cut away the dead leaves to make room for new shoots.
Bao noticed that a shoot had grown from the side of the old rose bush.
These bamboo shoots can grow more than thirty centimetres in a single day.
compound: bamboo shoot
- green shoot
- young shoot
- bamboo shoot
- new shoot
- tender shoot
- root
the part of the plant that grows underground, not above the surface
Grammar Patterns
shoot + of + noun
adjective + shoot
Usage Note
Often used with the name of the plant (bamboo shoot, rose shoot) to identify which plant the new growth belongs to.
Common Mistakes
2. a planned event in which a photographer takes pictures or records video of a per
a planned event in which a photographer takes pictures or records video of a person, group, or scene, typically for a magazine, advertisement, film, or special occasion
The fashion magazine planned a two-day shoot on a beach in Thailand.
compound: fashion shoot, photo shoot
Élise was nervous before her first professional photo shoot for the university brochure.
The film crew completed the final shoot of the commercial just before sunset.
Gita's wedding shoot lasted four hours and included pictures at four different locations.
compound: wedding shoot
- photo shoot
- fashion shoot
- wedding shoot
- portrait shoot
- product shoot
- photo session
more general, can be informal; 'photo shoot' is the more common and standard term in the industry
- filming
specifically for video, not still photographs
Grammar Patterns
photo shoot
fashion shoot
film shoot
Usage Note
Often combined with a noun describing the subject (fashion shoot, wedding shoot, portrait shoot). Shoots can be for still photography or video filming.
Common Mistakes
3. a planned hunting trip where participants use guns to kill wild birds or animals
a planned hunting trip where participants use guns to kill wild birds or animals, often done as a sport
The annual pheasant shoot in the countryside attracts hunters from across the region.
compound: pheasant shoot / duck shoot
Emre went on his first duck shoot early in the morning with his uncle.
The estate has hosted a traditional shoot every autumn for over fifty years.
Jude decided not to join the shoot because he prefers bird-watching to hunting.
- pheasant shoot
- duck shoot
- grouse shoot
- annual shoot
- shoot party
- hunt
a more general term for searching for and killing wild animals; 'shoot' is more specific to using guns in a group event
Grammar Patterns
noun + shoot
shoot + of + noun
Usage Note
Especially common in British English. The shoot is the whole event, not a single act of firing. The animal or bird hunted usually appears before the word (a grouse shoot, a duck shoot).
Common Mistakes
shoot — exclamation
1. used as an informal way to invite someone to begin speaking, especially when the
used as an informal way to invite someone to begin speaking, especially when they seem to want to say something but are hesitating.
You look like you have a question, Diego — so shoot, I am listening.
exclamation inviting someone to speak freely
Élise kept raising her hand, so the teacher said, "Shoot, what is it?"
Karim looked nervous, so Lien said, "Shoot, I am ready to help."
encouraging a hesitant person to speak
When the young student paused, Professor Noa smiled gently and said, "Shoot."
I know you have news about the trip, so shoot — do not keep me waiting.
Grammar Patterns
used as standalone exclamation
followed by a clause
Usage Note
Always informal. The speaker typically says this when they sense the listener is holding back a question, opinion, or piece of news.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four verbs describe sending a projectile from a weapon, but they differ in focus and range. Shoot is the most common, everyday word: it covers everything from a hunter aiming at a deer to a soldier firing in battle. Fire emphasises the act of the weapon discharging — you fire a gun, a cannon, or a starting pistol — and it can be used without a direct object ("the officer ordered them to fire"). Launch is broader still: it applies to missiles, rockets, or torpedoes, which are usually aimed at a distant target from a military base or ship; you would not normally launch a handgun bullet. Discharge is a formal, technical term typically found in legal or police reports ("the officer discharged his weapon"). In military contexts, you shoot someone (injure/kill with a firearm) but fire a weapon (pull the trigger). A soldier might say "I shot at the enemy" but would not say "I launched my rifle at them."
Common collocations
Etymology
The modern English verb shoot traces back to Old English scēotan, meaning "to hurl, to send forth with force, to dart." It belongs to the Germanic strong verb class and is cognate with Old High German sciozzan (German schießen) and Old Norse skjóta. The noun shot — referring to a projectile, a marksman, or an attempt — emerged from the same root in early Middle English. Over fourteen centuries, the core notion of "propelling something outward" has branched into weaponry (shoot a gun), sports (shoot a basket), photography (shoot a film), and everyday speech (shoot a question at someone, shoot the breeze).