shooting
SHOO-tihng
Shooting (noun) means an incident in which someone is shot, or the sport of firing guns at targets. Example: “Police responded quickly to reports of a shooting downtown.”
noun
1
An incident in which someone is shot, or the sport of firing guns at targets.
"Police responded quickly to reports of a shooting downtown."
"He took up clay pigeon shooting as a hobby."
"On Saturdays she practises target shooting at the local club, aiming at paper circles."
2
The act of filming.
"Shooting on the new series starts next month."
"Shooting wrapped up early because of the heavy rain on set."
"The shooting of the documentary took the team across three countries."
adj
1
Sudden and sharp, describing a pain.
"She felt a shooting pain down her arm."
"A shooting pain ran through his knee as he stood up."
"She woke with shooting pains in her lower back."
How to use shooting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn event involving gunfire, the sport of firing guns, filming a movie or show, or a sudden sharp pain.
Common pairings
a shooting pain
go shooting
start shooting a film
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Word forms
- Plural
- shootings
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Police responded quickly to reports of a _____ downtown.
Etymology
Came into English as Middle English shoting or schoting, from Old English scotung (“shooting”), from Proto-Germanic *skutungō. It is equivalent to shoot + -ing, and cognate with Dutch schieting, German Erschießung (“shooting”) and Swedish skjutning (“shooting”).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for shooting
See all rhymes for shooting →Frequently asked questions
What does “shooting” mean?
The word “shooting” means an incident in which someone is shot, or the sport of firing guns at targets. In plain terms, an event involving gunfire, the sport of firing guns, filming a movie or show, or a sudden sharp pain.
How do you pronounce “shooting”?
“Shooting” is pronounced SHOO-tihng (/ˈʃuːtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shooting” in a sentence?
Here is “shooting” used in a sentence: “Police responded quickly to reports of a shooting downtown.”
What part of speech is “shooting”?
Depending on how it is used, “shooting” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “shooting” a common word?
“Shooting” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “shooting” have?
“Shooting” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an incident in which someone is shot, or the sport of firing guns at targets.
What is the difference between a shooting and shooting as a sport?
The same word covers two very different things. 'A shooting' usually refers to a specific incident in which a person is shot, and is a news and crime term. 'Shooting' as a sport or hobby means firing guns at targets, such as clay pigeons or a range bullseye, for skill or competition. Context makes the meaning clear.
What are the types of shooting as a sport?
Target shooting comes in several recognised forms. Rifle and pistol shooting involve firing at fixed targets over set distances. Clay pigeon shooting, including skeet and trap, means hitting clay discs thrown into the air. Many of these are Olympic events, judged on accuracy and consistency rather than speed or force.
Does 'shooting' also mean filming?
Yes. In film and photography, 'shooting' means capturing images or footage with a camera — 'shooting a movie' or 'a photo shoot.' Here the word has nothing to do with guns; it comes from the idea of aiming a camera and 'taking' a shot. The intended meaning is always clear from the context.
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