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to shoot

to shoot

228 1.6
To move very quickly in one direction
  • verb
  • /ʃut/
: dispararse
  • At Riverside, for example, black and Latino student admissions shot up by 42 and 31 percent, respectively.
  • prices shot up
  • inflation shot up
  • shot upward

It'll take less time to shoot that than it would be to argue it.

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Examples

  • And then First Solar just shot past everyone.

  • I thought I saw like something shooting across the sky.

  • I thought I saw like something shooting across the sky.

  • Okay, he shot up into the sky.

  • I could jump and I could shoot, but not at the same time.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The next time it comes around I'm gonna shoot right through it.

  • If you restrict access to new technology, are you really shooting yourself in the foot?

    Academic text (1997)
  • However, in recent years, economic factors have shot to the forefront of Indo-Iranian relations.

    Academic text (2008)
  • With a wild swipe, he sends the Coke can shooting out of Geary's hand.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The rocket will shoot into space in just a few seconds.

Synonyms

to throw
vsto shoot
∞ 1.0

To send something through the air by a quick movement of the arm

is general sudden quickness and is not limited to sending by arm motions
to hurry
vsto shoot
∞ 1.0

To move or act quickly because there is little time

is sudden quick movement not always prompted by time pressure or urgency
to pop
vsto shoot
827 2.0

To make something open or appear quickly

is broader, also meaning to send or to cause events suddenly
to rush
vsto shoot
637 1.0

To move or act quickly because a situation needs it

is sudden quick action but does not always involve urgency or pressure
to fly
vsto shoot
312 1.8

Pass very quickly, often used for time

is sudden and quick but does not always mean extreme rapidity
to leap
vsto shoot
258 1.0

To jump quickly from one place to another or make something jump

is sudden quick action but does not require a springing motion upward
to speed
vsto shoot
205 1.0

To make something move or happen faster

focuses on sudden quickness rather than gradual acceleration or speeding up
to speed up
vsto shoot
186 2.5

To make something move or happen faster

is about sudden or immediate quick action rather than gradual speed increases
to burst
vsto shoot
117 1.9

Enter or appear suddenly with energy

is sudden and quick but not always as energetic or forceful
to jerk
vsto shoot
98 2.0

To move something suddenly and sharply

is sudden quick movement but not necessarily sharp or abrupt
to scoot
vsto shoot
  • Informal
72 2.8

Move a short distance quickly, often to make room or hurry

is sudden quick movement but is neutral, not necessarily playful or hurried
to dash
vsto shoot
67 1.0

To move very quickly to reach a place

is broader, covering quick sending or happenings beyond physical running
to dart
vsto shoot
60 2.2

To move quickly and suddenly in one direction

can mean sudden quick action without a focused straight direction
to jump
vsto shoot
50 1.0

To move or start suddenly because you are surprised

also covers deliberate sudden motion and causing things to happen, not just reflexes
to tear
vsto shoot
33 3.4

To move very quickly with great force

is sudden and quick without always having high force or great power
to flash
vsto shoot
20 2.2

To move very quickly for a short time

is sudden quick movement but not always extremely fast or very brief
to shoot off
vsto shoot
  • Informal
4 4.1

To send a message quickly without much thought

also covers sudden physical movement and events, not only quick sending
to scud
vsto shoot
2 8.0

To move quickly and smoothly, pushed by the wind

is sudden quick movement often caused by deliberate action, not usually wind-driven
to spurt
vsto shoot
1 3.5

To move or act suddenly with more speed for a short time

is sudden quick action not limited to short bursts of speed

Antonyms

893 1.4

To move or act more slowly

178 2.4

To stop moving or make something stop moving

Idioms

Blame or punish the person who brings bad news instead of fixing the problem

9 6.8

To chat in a relaxed informal way about unimportant things

9 8.1

To speak or act quickly without thinking carefully

Cause trouble for yourself by your actions, often by accident

2 4.7

Try to reach a very high and difficult goal

To chat in a relaxed way about everyday things

1 9.9

To surprise someone very strongly, often in a funny way

1 8.9

To speak quickly without thinking and risk upsetting people

Act quickly without thinking or checking facts

1 9.4

Say things quickly without thinking that may hurt people or make you sorry later

1 8.6

To use up all your energy or chances so none remain

Do or say something that harms your own chances

8.8

To use up all your energy or chances

9.9

Use all your energy at once and have none left in a rude way

Phrasal Verbs

149 4.4

Fire at a plane or missile so it falls to the ground

to shoot for
  • Informal
41 3.9

To try to reach a big, difficult goal

to shoot down
  • Informal
35 3.8

Say no to an idea or plan in a sudden, strong way

25 4.1

Rise quickly to a much higher level

to shoot off
  • Informal
4 4.1

To send a message quickly without much thought

2 8.4

Play a dice gambling game to try to win money

1 7.2

To find and point out weak points in an idea, plan or argument

1 3.7

To ask a question quickly and directly

to shoot a line
  • Informal
1 8.3

To send a short message to someone by phone or text

to shoot a line
  • Australian
9.6

To say proud things to make yourself seem better than you are

To say things carelessly or proudly without thinking about the result

Compounds

66 3.1

A session when someone takes photos of people or things

5 8.1

A fast action game or movie with a lot of shooting

4 8.4

An event or situation where winning is very easy, for example a shooting contest with easy targets

3 8.0

A fast action film or game with lots of shooting and fights

A small light camera with automatic settings for taking simple photos

1 2.1

A young stem of bamboo you can eat and use as a vegetable in Asian cooking

How Fast

to rocket
  • Specialized
16 4.2
to zip
  • Informal
41 2.3
to shoot
228 1.6
shift
355 3.5
to move
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

shoot infinitive
shooting present participle
shoots third person singular
shot past
shot past participle

Etymology

Shoot comes from an old English word sceotan meaning 'to throw' or 'send quickly'. So when someone shoots out of a room, they are sent forward very fast, which explains the sudden movement meaning.