plural noun
Shots are attempts to hit a target or score points, especially in a sport.
The basketball team made twelve shots in the first half.
Their final shots missed the rim.
American English
How to pronounce shots
nounB1Very common word
SHAHTS
/ʃɑts/
One syllable.
Form of shot
Shots are attempts to hit a target or score points, especially in a sport.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
plural noun
Shots are chances to do or get something.
We still have two shots at winning the game.
He had three shots at the title before retiring.
plural noun
Shots are acts of firing a gun or the loud sounds made by it.
We heard several shots behind the house.
The officers fired warning shots into the air.
plural noun
Shots are bullets fired from a gun.
Two shots hit the car's windshield.
The victim survived three shots to the chest.
Useful expressions
to try something
Give it a shot—you might like it.
to be the person who makes the decisions
My manager calls the shots here.
a guess made without enough information
That answer was a shot in the dark.
Related words & forms
The verb is irregular: shoot–shot–shot.