- 1[countable] shot (at somebody/something) the act of firing a gun; the sound this makes The man fired several shots from his pistol. Someone took a shot at the car. We heard some shots in the distance. see gunshot, potshot
- 2[countable] a good, bad, etc. shot a person who shoots a gun in a particular way (well, badly, etc.)
- 3(also lead shot) [uncountable] a large number of small metal balls that you fire together from a shotgun see buckshot
- 4[countable] (pl. shot) a large stone or metal ball that was shot from a cannon or large gun in the past remark/action
- 5[countable] a remark or an action that is usually one of a series, and is aimed against someone or something that you are arguing or competing with This statement was the opening shot in the argument. We're not sure which discount store fired the first shot in a price war today. attempt
- 6[countable, usually singular] shot (at something/at doing something) (informal) the act of trying to do or achieve something The team is looking good for a shot at the title. I've never produced a play before but I'll take a shot at it. I'm willing to give it a shot. Just give it your best shot (= try as hard as you can) and you'll be fine. in sports
- 7[countable] the action of hitting, kicking, or throwing the ball in order to score a point or goal in a game Taylor scored with a hook shot into the net. Good shot!
- 8the shot [singular] the heavy ball that is used in the sports competition called shot put photograph
- 9[countable] a photograph I got some good shots of people at the party. see mugshot, snapshot Thesaurusphotograph
- picture
- photo
- shot
- snapshot
- photograph a picture that has been made using a camera:a photograph of the house Can I take a photograph?
- picture a photograph:We had our picture taken in front of the hotel.
- photo a photograph:a passport photo
- Photograph is slightly more formal and photo is slightly less formal. Picture is used especially in the context of photographs in newspapers, magazines, and books.
- shot a photograph:I tried to get a shot of him in the water. Shot often places more emphasis on the process of taking the photograph than on the finished picture.
- snapshot an informal photograph that is taken quickly, and not by a professional photographer:holiday snapshots
- print a copy of a photograph that is produced from film or from a digital camera:a set of prints
- a color photograph/picture/photo/snapshot/print
- to take a photograph/picture/photo/shot/snapshot
scene in movie - 10[countable] a scene in a movie that is filmed continuously by one camera the opening shot of a character walking across a desert drug
- 11[countable] (informal) a small amount of a drug that is put into your body using a syringe synonym injection a flu shot (= to protect you against flu) a shot of morphine drink
- 12[countable] (informal) a small amount of a drink, especially a strong alcoholic one a shot of whiskey
- 13[countable] an occasion when a spacecraft is sent into space The space shot was shown live on television. horse/dog in race
- 14[singular] (used with numbers) a horse, dog, etc. that has the particular chance of winning a race that is mentioned The horse is a 10–1 shot. You will find other compounds ending in shot at their place in the alphabet. Idioms
with gun
an important person
to be the person who controls a situation
very quickly and without hesitating If I had the chance to go there, I'd go like a shot.
an attempt or a guess that is not likely to be successful but is worth trying It's a long shot, but it just might work.
not nearly; not at all It's not over yet—not by a long shot.
a final remark, especially an unkind one, that someone makes as they leave As her parting shot she warned Pete never to come near her again.
something that you say or do as a warning to someone about what might happen if they do not change, etc.
something that gives someone or something the help or encouragement they need
a guess; something you do without knowing what the result will be The figure he came up with was really just a shot in the dark.
Check pronunciation: shot