Skip to main content
shot

shot

87 4.2
A person skilled at using a gun or aiming at targets
  • noun
  • /ʃɑt/
: tirador
  • You are a good shot, Private.

Usually if you're a bad shot, you are a driver.

Autoplay Next

Examples

Synonyms

shooter
vsshot
463 3.6

A person who fires a gun, sometimes paid to kill others

is any person who fires a weapon, skilled or unskilled
gunner
vsshot
49 6.1

A person who aims and fires weapons, often in the military or in contests

is broader, meaning any person who fires a weapon in any context
archer
vsshot
36 3.9

A person who shoots a bow and arrow

is broader and typically refers to people who fire guns or other weapons
sharpshooter
vsshot
25 5.2

A person who can hit targets very accurately with a gun or in sport

is more general and may include people who fire weapons with varied skill
marksman
vsshot
25 5.9

A person who shoots very accurately with a gun

is less specific, meaning any person who fires weapons regardless of skill
crack shot
vsshot
4 6.5

A person who hits targets very accurately with a gun

is broader and can mean any person who fires a weapon, not only experts
shootist
vsshot
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A person who is very good at using guns and hitting targets

is the broader name for any person who fires a weapon, skilled or not
deadeye
vsshot
1 8.8

A very accurate shooter who can hit small targets from a distance

is the general term for anyone who fires a weapon, skilled or not
markswoman
vsshot
1 7.7

A woman who shoots well with a gun

is gender neutral, referring to any person who fires a weapon
1 6.5

A person who shoots very well, often in the army or competitions

is more general, covering any person who fires weapons whether skilled or not

Antonyms

10 4.6

A person who is not able to do a job or task well

Idioms

worth a shot
  • Informal
24 4.8

Good to try something even if it may not work

by a long shot
  • Informal
18 4.1

By a much larger amount than others

An early warning action or comment showing a stronger response may follow

like a shot
  • Informal
3 6.0

Very quickly and without hesitation

2 5.7

To rise very quickly to a much higher level

To guess or try something without much information

1 9.9

To say something quickly without thinking

To leave a place very quickly

Compounds

big shot
  • Informal
79 3.9

A person who is important and powerful in a job or field

long shot
  • Informal
63 4.6

An unlikely attempt that is still worth trying

best shot
  • Informal
59 3.2

A try using all your effort

31 4.1

A photograph of a person's face taken by police after arrest to identify them

cheap shot
  • Informal
20 5.2

An unfair comment that attacks someone who cannot defend themselves

16 2.7

A basketball shot made while you jump and let go of the ball at the top

12 1.8

A small glass that holds one small drink of strong alcohol like whiskey or tequila

6 2.7

A track and field event where athletes throw a heavy metal ball as far as possible

parting shot
  • Informal
4 7.4

A final sharp remark you say as you leave to hurt or surprise someone

4 6.5

A person who hits targets very accurately with a gun

one shot
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A single bullet and its case ready to be fired from a gun

3 2.7

A photo taken at the best moment that shows the main thing in the picture clearly

3 3.9

Two equal servings of alcohol or strong coffee served together

cheap shot
  • NSFW
3 5.6

An unfair physical attack on a player, often after the play stops

long shot
  • Informal
3 4.6

A person or thing unlikely to win in a competition

2 3.7

A single firing of a rifle that makes a loud sound

2 3.4

An athlete who throws a heavy ball called a shot in competitions

booster shot
  • Specialized
2 2.9

An extra vaccine dose you get after the first to make protection stronger

bird shot
  • Specialized
2 5.8

Small round lead pellets used in shotgun shells to hunt small birds

1 2.7

A swing of a golf club to hit the ball

hook shot
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A basketball shot made by sweeping the arm and releasing the ball high with the hand farthest from the basket

approach shot
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A short golf shot hit to land the ball on the putting green

foul shot
  • Specialized
1 2.6

A free throw in basketball taken from the line when an opponent breaks the rules

1 7.9

A very ambitious project that is unlikely to succeed

1 3.5

A basketball shot where a player jumps and pushes the ball down into the hoop with one or both hands

one shot
  • Specialized
1 8.4

Able to learn something new from a single example

round shot
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A solid metal ball used in cannons in the past

An attempt to score by throwing the ball into the hoop

drop shot
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A soft shot in tennis that lands just over the net and drops quickly, hard to reach

moon shot
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A rocket launch that sends a spacecraft to the moon

chip shot
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A short low golf shot that makes the ball run along the ground toward the hole

A stroke in tennis or similar racket sports made with the back of the hand facing the ball

1 3.9

A basketball move in which a player stands still and uses both hands to put the ball in the basket

rifle shot
  • Specialized
1 6.5

The farthest distance a rifle bullet can hit a target

1 2.5

A hit of the tennis ball with a racket during play

case shot
  • Archaic
1 9.8

A metal cylinder filled with small balls fired from a cannon to spread them widely

pitch shot
  • Jargon
1 4.9

A high, short golf shot that lands softly near the hole

passing shot
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A tennis hit that goes past an opponent at the net

duck shot
  • Specialized
1 7.2

Small metal balls put in shotgun shells for hunting ducks

A stroke hit with the palm facing forward in tennis or badminton

powder and shot
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A supply of gunpowder and bullets for old guns

1 7.7

A small round metal pellet fired from an air gun

scoop shot
  • Jargon
1 4.9

A close-range basketball shot made with an underhand scooping motion over a defender

1 4.8

A goalkeeper who is very good at saving shots on goal

1 9.9

A tall building used to make small round lead balls for guns by dropping hot lead into water

1 3.7

A shot in basketball that bounces off the backboard into the hoop

shot hole
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A hole that workers drill in rock or earth to hold explosives for blasting

canister shot
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A metal cylinder filled with many small balls that scatter when fired from a cannon

1 3.4

A shot you take from the free throw line after a foul

stuff shot
  • Jargon
1 7.0

A basketball play where a player puts the ball down hard through the hoop

chop shot
  • Jargon
1 6.9

A tennis stroke where you hit the ball downwards so it spins backwards

masse shot
  • Jargon
9.9

A pool shot where the player holds the cue almost vertical so the cue ball curves around another ball

A tropical plant grown for its edible root that people use to make starch for cooking

pivot shot
  • Jargon
6.1

A one-handed basketball shot you take while turning on one foot

shot metal
  • Specialized
9.5

A soft metal mixture mostly made of lead used to make small pellets for shotgun shells

9.9

A video or film with bright, swirling images that look unreal, like a strong drug trip

How Skilled

expert
165 3.5
sharpshooter
25 5.2
marksman
25 5.9
shot
87 4.2
amateur
132 2.8
beginner
78 1.0

Surface Forms

shot singular
shots plural

Etymology

Shot meaning a skilled shooter comes from being good at shooting with a gun or bow. So a 'good shot' is a person who hits their target well.