shot
shot — verb
1. the form of the verb 'shoot' that is used when describing actions that happened
the form of the verb 'shoot' that is used when describing actions that happened in the past. It works both as the simple past tense — for example, 'Asher shot the ball into the net' — and as the past participle — for example, 'The director has shot all the scenes already'.
Yasmin shot at the target three times during the competition.
past simple: shoot + at + [target]
Feng shot the entire wedding ceremony with his old camera.
past simple: shoot + [event] + with [camera]
Asher shot the ball past the goalkeeper in the final minute.
Ingrid has shot over a hundred short films in her career.
past participle: have/has shot + [number] + [noun]
The scene was shot on location in the old town square.
past participle passive: be shot + on location + [place]
Grammar Patterns
shoot → shot → shot
Usage Note
Irregular verb — never add -ed. The form 'shooted' is not accepted in standard English. The same spelling 'shot' is used for both the simple past tense and the past participle.
Common Mistakes
shot — noun
1. In sports and games, using your foot, hand, or a piece of equipment to send a ba
In sports and games, using your foot, hand, or a piece of equipment to send a ball toward a goal, basket, or scoring area.
Quinn took a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, but the ball went wide.
take + a + shot + from [position]
Her final shot hit the crossbar and bounced away from the goal.
The basketball player's last shot won the match at the buzzer.
Eitan practised his golf shot for hours at the driving range before the tournament.
possessive + shot — specific player's action
The goalkeeper saved every shot that came her way during the second half.
- take a shot
- have a shot
- on target
- powerful shot
- accurate shot
- goal shot
Grammar Patterns
take + a + shot
have + a + shot
[person] + shot + verb
Usage Note
Countable noun. Often used with verbs like take, have, make, or save. The specific type of shot (e.g. golf shot, tennis shot, penalty shot) depends on the sport.
Common Mistakes
2. When someone uses a gun or similar weapon to send out a bullet, or the noise tha
When someone uses a gun or similar weapon to send out a bullet, or the noise that this action produces.
The soldiers heard a single shot ring out across the valley.
a + [adjective] + shot — describes the firing event
Anjali fired two warning shots into the air to scare the wild dogs away.
The police officer's shot hit the target exactly where she had aimed.
Élise loaded the rifle carefully and prepared her first shot at the competition.
They heard the sound of gun shots coming from somewhere deep inside the forest.
compound noun: gun shot — combined form
- fire a shot
- warning shot
- single shot
- gun shot
- heard a shot
Grammar Patterns
fire + a + shot
a + shot + rings out
Usage Note
Countable when referring to individual firing events (fired three shots). Uncountable when referring to the general concept (shot rang out). Distinguish from bullet, which is the projectile itself.
Common Mistakes
3. A person who fires a gun, typically described in terms of how skilled they are a
A person who fires a gun, typically described in terms of how skilled they are at hitting targets.
Dewi is an excellent shot and rarely misses the target during practice.
be + a + good/excellent/poor + shot — describes shooting ability
The army only recruits soldiers who are good shots with a rifle.
Antonia was the best shot in her shooting club for three years in a row.
Ziad turned out to be a poor shot during training and needed extra practice.
- good shot
- excellent shot
- poor shot
- best shot
Grammar Patterns
be + a + [adjective] + shot
Usage Note
Almost always used with an adjective (good shot, bad shot, excellent shot, poor shot) to evaluate the person's skill. Rarely used without a modifier — 'he is a shot' is unnatural.
Common Mistakes
4. A casual attempt at doing something, often something new or challenging that you
A casual attempt at doing something, often something new or challenging that you are not sure you can succeed at.
Quinn decided to give the new job a shot and sent in an application.
give + [something] + a shot — informal idiom for 'try'
Haruto's first shot at fixing the old motorcycle engine did not work out.
I think you should take another shot at solving that difficult puzzle.
The team's best shot at winning the championship ended in a close defeat.
Rosa had never tried surfing before, but she said she would give it a shot.
- give it a shot
- have a shot at
- take a shot at
- worth a shot
- first shot
- best shot
Grammar Patterns
give + [something] + a + shot
have + a + shot + at + [something]
[possessive] + shot + at + [something]
Usage Note
Informal register — suitable for conversation and casual writing, but not formal documents. Common in fixed phrases: give it a shot, have a shot at, be worth a shot. Distinguish from noun/13 (a guess or estimate based on little information).
Common Mistakes
5. A picture taken with a camera, especially an informal or unplanned one rather th
A picture taken with a camera, especially an informal or unplanned one rather than a formal portrait.
Obi took a lovely shot of the sunset over the mountains during their hike.
take + a + shot + of + [subject] — photograph
Rachel showed us holiday shots from her recent trip to the south of France.
The photographer captured a beautiful close-up shot of the rare bird.
Erik carefully framed the shot so that the old temple was right in the centre.
Anjali took several shots of the street market, each one full of colour and life.
- take a shot
- get a shot
- family shot
- holiday shot
- close-up shot
- action shot
- photo
similar register, slightly more common in everyday speech
- photograph
more formal, used in official or artistic contexts
- snapshot
emphasises speed and informality
Grammar Patterns
take + a + shot + of + [subject]
Usage Note
Countable noun. More informal than photograph and slightly more informal than photo. Common in phrases like take a shot, get a shot, or snap a shot (very informal).
Common Mistakes
6. A single continuous piece of film or video recorded in one unbroken stretch with
A single continuous piece of film or video recorded in one unbroken stretch with a single camera, forming part of a larger scene or sequence in a movie, television programme, or video.
The opening shot of the film showed a woman walking alone through thick fog.
opening shot / closing shot — position in the film
Iker rehearsed the scene for hours before the director called for the first shot.
The camera operator followed the actor's movement in a long continuous shot.
The director wanted a close-up shot of the child's frightened face.
That action sequence was filmed in a single shot without any editing tricks.
- opening shot
- closing shot
- long shot
- close-up shot
- tracking shot
- camera shot
- action shot
Grammar Patterns
[adjective] + shot + of + [subject]
the + [adjective] + shot
Usage Note
Countable noun. Distinguish from scene, which is a series of shots set in one location with a single dramatic unit. A shot is the smallest building block of a film, filmed continuously by one camera.
Common Mistakes
7. a single serving of a strong liquor, such as whiskey or tequila, that people usu
a single serving of a strong liquor, such as whiskey or tequila, that people usually swallow all at once.
Asher ordered a shot of whiskey at the bar.
collocation: a shot of + liquor name
The bartender poured Lan a single shot of tequila with lime.
After the wedding toast, everyone downed their shot in one go.
collocation: downed a shot
Élise felt the burn of the vodka shot as it went down.
The recipe calls for a shot of dark rum and some lime juice.
collocation: calls for a shot of
- a shot of whiskey/rum/tequila
- down a shot
- pour a shot
- order a shot
- take a shot
Grammar Patterns
a shot of + drink
Usage Note
In most English-speaking regions, a standard shot is roughly 1.5 fluid ounces (44 ml).
Common Mistakes
8. a concentrated serving of a strong-tasting beverage that contains no alcohol, su
a concentrated serving of a strong-tasting beverage that contains no alcohol, such as espresso or a wellness tonic.
The café serves a small shot of espresso alongside the dessert.
collocation: a shot of espresso
Putri added a shot of ginger juice to the smoothie for flavour.
The bartender offered Yara a shot of wheatgrass at the juice bar.
Indra bought a shot of energy drink from the convenience store before the exam.
collocation: a shot of energy drink
- a shot of espresso
- a shot of ginger
- a shot of wheatgrass
- a shot of energy drink
- dose
emphasises medicinal or health-related effect more than taste
Grammar Patterns
a shot of + drink
Usage Note
This sense is most common in café menus, juice bars, and health-product packaging. It always implies a concentrated or potent serving.
9. a dose of medicine or a vaccine that is pushed into the body through a needle; a
a dose of medicine or a vaccine that is pushed into the body through a needle; an injection.
The nurse gave Ife a flu shot before winter arrived.
collocation: flu shot / get a shot
Paloma needed a tetanus shot after stepping on a rusty nail.
The doctor recommended a daily shot of insulin for the patient.
collocation: shot of insulin
Felipe felt a quick pinch when the vaccination shot went into his arm.
The clinic offers free COVID-19 booster shots for elderly residents.
compound: booster shot
- flu shot
- tetanus shot
- booster shot
- shot of insulin
- get a shot
- give a shot
Grammar Patterns
a shot of + drug/vaccine
get a shot
give someone a shot
Usage Note
Common collocations include the specific vaccine name followed by 'shot' (e.g., flu shot, tetanus shot, COVID shot). 'Booster shot' refers to a repeat dose that strengthens immunity.
Common Mistakes
10. the metal sphere that competitors heave for maximum distance in the sport of sho
the metal sphere that competitors heave for maximum distance in the sport of shot-put.
Quinn lifted the shot over her shoulder before throwing it across the field.
action sequence: lift + throw the shot
The athlete polished the metal shot between each round of the competition.
Yasmin threw the shot farther than anyone in the state finals that year.
Each shot weighs about seven kilograms in men's shot-put events.
factual: weight specification
- throw the shot
- the shot weighs
- the metal shot
- the shot glides
- metal ball
descriptive term rather than a standard sporting label
Grammar Patterns
the + shot
throw the shot
Usage Note
This sense is specific to the sport of shot-put and is always used with 'the' when referring to the specific ball. In competition, women use a 4 kg shot and men use a 7.26 kg shot.
11. tiny round metallic pellets packed inside a shotgun cartridge that scatter in a
tiny round metallic pellets packed inside a shotgun cartridge that scatter in a wide pattern when fired.
The hunter loaded the shotgun with birdshot for duck hunting.
compound: birdshot (type of shot)
The police found small metal shot scattered across the floor of the warehouse.
Mert cleaned the shotgun and filled it with fresh shot for the next hunt.
collocation: clean + fill with shot
The farmer keeps a shotgun loaded with heavy shot to protect the livestock.
- birdshot
- buckshot
- heavy shot
- load with shot
- scatter shot
Grammar Patterns
load + with shot
shot + verb (scatter/spread)
Usage Note
This noun is uncountable when referring to the substance as a mass (e.g., 'the cartridge is filled with shot'). Individual pellets are called 'shot pellets' or 'BBs' in casual speech.
12. a solid object, such as a bullet, cannonball, or artillery shell, that is fired
a solid object, such as a bullet, cannonball, or artillery shell, that is fired from a weapon.
A single shot from the cannon tore through the wall of the fortress.
collocation: a shot from the cannon
Henry heard the whizz of a shot passing close to his helmet.
Historians found an old cannon shot buried beneath the castle courtyard.
The forensic team recovered the shot that was lodged in the wooden door.
passive: shot was lodged in
- cannon shot
- a single shot
- shot fired from
- shot lodged in
- recover a shot
- bullet
the standard word for a modern firearm projectile
- cannonball
large solid projectile fired from a cannon
- shell
an explosive projectile fired from artillery
Grammar Patterns
a + shot + from + weapon
Usage Note
This sense is more commonly used for historical artillery (cannonballs) and in formal or technical descriptions. For modern firearms, 'bullet' is the usual word.
13. A guess or rough estimate that someone makes without having all the necessary fa
A guess or rough estimate that someone makes without having all the necessary facts, often because they have to decide or act quickly.
Tariro did not know the capital of Finland, so she made a wild shot.
make a wild shot — a guess with no real information
The mechanic took a shot at the problem before looking at the engine manual.
take a shot at [something] — attempt to guess or solve
Bao's estimate for the repair cost was just a shot in the dark.
shot in the dark — idiomatic expression for a wild guess
When the teacher asked for the answer, Paul took a shot at it.
The team had no real data, so every number they gave was a rough shot.
rough shot — an approximate estimate
- wild shot
- rough shot
- shot in the dark
- take a shot at
- a long shot
- guess
neutral, everyday alternative; less dramatic than 'shot'
- estimate
more deliberate and slightly more formal; implies some basis
- speculation
implies thinking based on incomplete evidence; more formal
Usage Note
Common in the fixed expressions 'a shot in the dark', 'a wild shot', and 'a rough shot'. Not used in formal or academic writing.
Common Mistakes
14. A harsh, critical, or aggressive comment aimed at a specific person, often said
A harsh, critical, or aggressive comment aimed at a specific person, often said during an argument or as a way of attacking someone.
Emre's parting shot at the meeting was that nobody listened to him anyway.
parting shot — a final critical remark made when leaving
Sana could not help making a cheap shot about her brother's haircut.
cheap shot — an unfair or unkind critical remark
The senator's comment was a shot at the other party's new spending plan.
a shot at [someone/something] — a targeted critical comment
Iris took a shot at her colleague for arriving late to every training session.
- parting shot
- cheap shot
- a shot at
- take a shot at
- compliment
a positive, praising remark
- praise
expression of approval or admiration
Usage Note
Frequently appears in the fixed expressions 'parting shot' (a final critical remark when leaving) and 'cheap shot' (an unfair or petty criticism). Common with 'take a shot at [someone]'.
Common Mistakes
15. A measured amount of explosive material used for blowing up rock, earth, or othe
A measured amount of explosive material used for blowing up rock, earth, or other solid materials, especially in mining, quarrying, or construction.
The mining crew set the shot and moved to a safe distance before detonation.
set the shot — prepare an explosive charge for detonation
Gabriel calculated how much explosive each shot would need to break the granite.
each shot — a single charge of explosives used in one blast
Workers loaded the shot into the drilled hole and connected the fuse.
A misfired shot in the quarry delayed the entire construction project by days.
misfired shot — an explosive charge that fails to detonate as planned
- set a shot
- load a shot
- misfired shot
- fuse a shot
Usage Note
Technical term in mining and construction. Objects are typically 'set', 'loaded', or 'fired'. 'Misfired shot' refers to a charge that fails to detonate. Not used in everyday conversation.
Common Mistakes
An important or famous person.
Maya is a big shot in the city's art scene.
Is your uncle really a big name in politics?
call the shots/tune
idiomTo be the person who makes the decisions and controls what happens.
In this company, the CEO calls the shots.
Who calls the tune in your household?
like a shot
idiomVery quickly and without any hesitation.
When the bell rang, Tom ran out like a shot.
Would you accept the job offer like a shot?
a long shot
idiomAn attempt or guess that is not likely to succeed but is still worth trying.
It's a long shot, but we might find a taxi.
Winning the lottery is a long shot, but people still play.
not by a long shot
idiomNot at all; not nearly.
This problem is not solved, not by a long shot.
Is the project finished? Not by a long shot.
parting shot
idiomA final remark, often unkind, made when leaving.
As her parting shot, Sara said she never wanted to see him again.
His parting shot was a sarcastic comment about my cooking.
A warning to someone about what might happen if they do not change their behavior.
The manager's email was a shot across the bows for lazy employees.
The protest was a shot across the government's bows.
a shot in the arm
idiomSomething that gives encouragement or a needed boost.
The new funding was a shot in the arm for the research team.
Her kind words were a real shot in the arm for me.
A guess or attempt made without knowing the facts or likely outcome.
My answer was a shot in the dark, but it turned out correct.
He took a stab in the dark and guessed the password.
shot — adjective
1. refers to woven cloth where threads of another colour are added, making the visi
refers to woven cloth where threads of another colour are added, making the visible colour shift or shimmer as you change the viewing angle.
The shot silk curtains shimmered with green and gold in the sunlight.
shot + silk — pre-nominal adjective before fabric type
Dahlia chose shot taffeta in a deep magenta for her evening gown.
Darius admired how the shot velvet changed colour as the bride walked down the aisle.
The fabric was shot with silver threads that caught every light in the room.
passive: be shot with [thread] — colour-change effect
Min's favourite blouse is made of a shot silk that shifts from blue to purple.
- shot silk
- shot taffeta
- shot velvet
- shot satin
- be shot with gold/silver/blue threads
- iridescent
more general — describes any surface that shifts colour, not just fabric
- shimmering
focuses on the optical effect rather than the weave technique
- changeable
an older, less common term for shot fabric; now rare
Grammar Patterns
shot + [fabric type] (silk, taffeta, velvet)
be shot with [colour/thread]
Usage Note
Typically used before a fabric name (shot silk, shot taffeta) or in the passive pattern 'be shot with [thread/colour]'. Not used for non-fabric materials.
Common Mistakes
2. no longer in a working or usable condition because of age, heavy use, or damage;
no longer in a working or usable condition because of age, heavy use, or damage; also used to describe a person who is extremely tired.
After twelve years of daily use, the old washing machine was completely shot.
collocation: completely shot — intensifier before predicative adjective
Allison felt absolutely shot after working two night shifts in a row.
informal — can describe a person's extreme exhaustion
The brakes on Ravindra's car were shot and needed to be replaced immediately.
By the time they reached the hostel, Heloísa's hiking boots were completely shot.
Bilal's laptop battery is shot — it only lasts about forty minutes now.
- completely shot
- absolutely shot
- totally shot
- pretty shot
- battery is shot
- engine is shot
- knees are shot
Grammar Patterns
be shot (completely/absolutely/totally shot)
feel shot (of a person)
Usage Note
Only used predicatively (after 'be', 'feel', or 'get'). Never place before a noun — you cannot say 'a shot engine'. Frequently intensified by adverbs like 'completely', 'absolutely', 'totally'.
Common Mistakes
3. to be rid of someone or something, or to have finished dealing with a person or
to be rid of someone or something, or to have finished dealing with a person or situation — used only in the fixed expressions 'get shot of' or 'be shot of'.
The company was glad to be shot of the failing division after the sale.
fixed expression: be shot of — having got rid of
Erik finally got shot of his old sofa when the charity shop collected it.
fixed expression: get shot of — take action to remove
Justin was relieved to be shot of his noisy neighbours after the move.
Camille wants to get shot of all her old clothes before the trip to Japan.
The team was happy to be shot of the project after all the delays.
- get shot of
- be shot of
- glad to be shot of
- happy to be shot of
- relieved to be shot of
- stuck with
informal opposite — unable to escape a person or thing
Grammar Patterns
get shot of [someone/something]
be shot of [someone/something]
glad/relieved/happy + to be shot of
Usage Note
Only appears in the fixed phrases 'get shot of' or 'be shot of' (never 'shot of' alone as a verb). Common in British English but rare in North American English. The 'shot' here does not relate to guns or firing — it is an unrelated colloquial use.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- shootverbA1
- shootnounB1
- shooternounB1
- shootingnounB1
- shotgunnounB2
- shot-putnounB2
- screenshotnounB1
- shotsnoun (plural)A2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/9
These four words all describe medicine delivered into the body, but they differ in register and scope. 'Shot' is the most informal and common in everyday English — people say 'I need a flu shot' or 'did you get your shot?' It is the normal word in casual conversation and news headlines. 'Injection' is more formal and technical, used in medical writing, doctor's notes, and official contexts ('the patient received an intramuscular injection'). 'Jab' is the informal British English equivalent of 'shot' — 'I went for my COVID jab' is how a British person would say it. 'Vaccination' refers specifically to a shot that provides immunity to a disease, and it can also describe the entire process (the visit, the dose, the immune response) rather than just the act of injecting. If you bump into a friend at a pharmacy, you say 'getting a shot.' If you read a medical brochure, it says 'injection.' If you are in London, you hear 'jab.' If you are talking about public health campaigns, you say 'vaccination.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- gun shot
- cannon shot
- penalty shot
- free shot
- warning shot
- parting shot
- cheap shot
- booster shot
Adverbs
- well-aimed shot
- clean shot
- lucky shot
- perfectly timed shot
- single shot
Phrases
- a shot in the arm
- like a shot
- call the shots
- by a long shot
- not by a long shot
- a shot across the bow
- give it a shot
- worth a shot
Prepositions
- shot at [target/opportunity]
- shot of [drink/medicine]
- shot from [position/weapon]
- shot across [area]
- shot in the dark
Etymology
The noun 'shot' comes from Old English sc(e)ot, meaning 'a missile, that which is shot forth,' a noun derived from the verb sceotan ('to shoot'). The same word gave rise to the past tense and past participle of 'shoot' (the verb form 'shot'). Over time the meaning broadened beyond the original projectile sense: sporting attempts (1800s), a single photographic exposure (1890s, from the idea of 'shooting' a picture), a medical injection (early 1900s), a small serving of alcohol (1920s), and informal uses like 'a try' or 'a guess.' The adjective senses ('shot silk,' 'worn out,' 'get shot of') developed separately — the fabric sense from the Old English past participle meaning 'interwoven, variegated,' and the worn-out sense from the idea of something being 'spent' like ammunition.