Irregular verbs  Regular verbs

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shoot, shoots, shooting, shot

Synonyms: fire, discharge, launch, bolt, sprint

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Antonyms: hold, cease, crawl, amble, linger

The Verb Shoot – Definition, Usage, and Clarification


The verb shoot is a common and versatile irregular verb. Its core meaning is to fire a weapon, but it has many other meanings, including moving rapidly, filming or photographing, and trying to score in sports.


VERB FORMS


■ Base Form: shoot
■ Past Simple: shot
■ Past Participle: shot
■ Present Participle/Gerund: shooting


USAGE AND CONTEXT


'Shoot' is used in a wide variety of contexts, from literal to figurative.


1. Firing a Weapon
This is its most direct and serious meaning.


■ Hunting/Conflict: 'The soldier was trained to shoot accurately.'


2. Sports
This refers to hitting, kicking, or throwing a ball or puck toward a goal.


■ Basketball/Football: 'He shot the ball from the three-point line.'


3. Film and Photography
This means to capture images on film or digitally.


■ Filmmaking: 'They are shooting a new movie in Morocco.'
■ Photography: 'We have a photo shoot scheduled for this afternoon.' (Noun form)


4. Moving Suddenly and Quickly
This describes rapid, direct movement.


■ Speed: 'A car shot past us on the highway.'
■ Sensation: 'A sharp pain shot up his arm.'


ℹ IMPORTANT: PHRASAL VERBS AND OTHER MEANINGS


■ Phrasal Verbs:
■ Shoot up: To increase or grow very quickly. ('Prices shot up after the announcement.')
■ Shoot down: To reject an idea or proposal. ('My suggestion was immediately shot down by the manager.')


■ Interjection 'Shoot!': In casual speech, 'Shoot!' is used as a mild exclamation of frustration or disappointment, similar to 'Darn!'