shooting

noun

shoot·​ing ˈshü-tiŋ How to pronounce shooting (audio)
plural shootings
1
: the act of shooting a gun
But shooting is many a man's choice, especially up at the great hunting clubs like Choctaw Bluff …Harriet de Rosišre
2
: an instance of gun violence directed toward a person or group of people
a drive-by shooting
mass shootings
… a clutch of outspoken student activists flipped the national script on school shootings in America.Dahlia Lithwick
3
: the act of photographing or filming someone or something
A large fan specially designed to create the effect of wind during shooting.Ira Konigsberg
That part of filmmaking that comes immediately after the shooting is completed …Ira Konigsberg

Examples of shooting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At halftime Thursday, McNeese led, 31-13, scoring 15 points off turnovers and holding Clemson to just 20.8% shooting, including 1 of 15 (6.7%) on 3-pointers. Tim Casey, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 The 6-8 small forward/shooting guard would be an option with Golden State’s pick, projected for the late teens or early 20s. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025 Swatting is a crime that involves making a bogus emergency call claiming a horrific emergency is taking place – often a shooting – to draw police and first responders to a person’s home. Hadas Gold, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025 After the shooting, three officers — including the one who shot Pike and Destinii — were put on administrative leave. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shooting

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shooting was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shooting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shooting. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

shooting

adjective
shoot·​ing
: characterized by sudden sharp piercing sensations
shooting pains

More from Merriam-Webster on shooting

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