shoot
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for shoot, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To fire a weapon, or to hit someone or something with a projectile from one.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use shoot
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English scēotan ("to shoot, throw"), from an ancient Germanic root meaning to hurl or launch quickly.
Full origin of shoot →Frequently asked questions
What does “shoot” mean?
The word “shoot” means to fire a weapon, or to hit someone or something with a projectile from one. In plain terms, to fire a weapon or send something fast, to film/photograph, or (as a noun) a plant sprout or filming session.
How do you pronounce “shoot”?
“Shoot” is pronounced shoot (/ʃut/ in IPA).
How do you use “shoot” in a sentence?
Here is “shoot” used in a sentence: “Tiny green shoots pushed up through the soil after the rain.”
What part of speech is “shoot”?
Depending on how it is used, “shoot” can be a verb, a noun and an intj.
Where does the word “shoot” come from?
The word “shoot” comes from Old English. From Old English scēotan ("to shoot, throw"), from an ancient Germanic root meaning to hurl or launch quickly.
Is “shoot” a common word?
“Shoot” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “shoot” have?
“Shoot” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fire a weapon, or to hit someone or something with a projectile from one.
What is the difference between shoot and chute?
They sound identical but are unrelated. Shoot is a verb meaning to fire a weapon, and also a noun for new plant growth. A chute is a sloping channel or slide for moving things downward — as in a rubbish chute — and is short for parachute. If a weapon or a goal is involved, the word is shoot.
What are the other meanings of shoot?
Besides firing a weapon, shoot has several common senses. In sport, you shoot to score a goal or a basket. In film and photography, you shoot a scene or a picture. In gardening, a shoot is a young stem growing from a plant. It also works as a mild exclamation of annoyance.
What is an example of shoot in a sentence?
'The archer drew back her bow to shoot at the target' shows the core meaning — firing a projectile from a weapon. Other uses include 'they shoot the film next week' and 'green shoots appeared in spring,' but the primary sense remains releasing a projectile from a weapon.