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shoot

A2
verbnoun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ʃˈuːt/

US

  • /ˈʃut/

Description

The word "shoot" often means to fire a gun or another weapon, as in "The guard shot at the target." It also often means to film or take pictures: "They are shooting a new movie" or "She likes to shoot street photos." Another common use is for fast movement, like "He shot out the door when he heard the bell."

You can also shoot a basketball, shoot for a goal, or shoot the breeze and have a light chat. It is a flexible word, and the meaning depends a lot on the situation.

Examples

  1. 1

    Hunting

    The hunter waited until the deer was closer before he shot.

  2. 2

    Gunfire target

    Someone shot at the car last night, but no one was hurt.

    • Pattern

      shoot at + target

      fire toward it, not necessarily hit it

  3. 3

    Crime injury

    She was shot in the leg during the robbery.

  4. 4

    Sports

    Alvarez shot the ball past the keeper in the final minute.

  5. 5

    Filming

    They're shooting a new series downtown this week.

    • Domain

      in film and TV, shoot

      record with a camera

  6. 6

    Photography

    Can you shoot a few photos of us before it gets dark?

  7. 7

    Rent increase

    Rent has shot up since the new offices opened nearby.

    • Phrase

      shoot up

      rise very quickly

  8. 8

    Sudden pain

    A sharp pain shot through his back when he bent down.

    • Pattern

      shoot through + place/body

      move quickly through it

  9. 9

    Planning

    Let's shoot for ten o'clock and see how traffic looks.

    • Pattern

      shoot for + time/goal

      aim for it

  10. 10

    Informal message

    I'll shoot you the address once they confirm the booking.

    • Usage

      shoot someone something

      send it quickly; informal

  11. 11

    Photo session

    We did the photo shoot on the beach at sunrise.

    • Phrase

      photo shoot

      a session for taking photos

  12. 12

    Mild exclamation

    "Shoot, I left my phone in the taxi."

    • Usage

      shoot

      a mild word people say when something goes wrong

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • shootnounverb

Forms

  • shotpast tensepast participleverbnoun
  • shooting-ing formverbnoun
  • shootspluralnounverb