shoot up

verb

shot up; shooting up; shoots up
Synonyms of shoot upnext

transitive verb

1
: to shoot or shoot at especially recklessly
cowboys shooting up the town
2
: to inject (a narcotic drug) into a vein

intransitive verb

: to inject a narcotic into a vein
shoot-up
ˈshüt-ˌəp How to pronounce shoot up (audio)
noun

Examples of shoot up in a Sentence

gas prices shot up seemingly overnight
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.
Seedling shoots should still be able to shoot up through the gaps in the coverings but will be protected from tiny claws attempting to dig them out. — Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 25 June 2026 The multiday effort has been full of challenges for firefighters, with fiery flare-ups shooting up from the building whose roof is covered with solar panels. — Arkansas Online, 21 June 2026 The firm’s stock price shot up in after-hours trading, but not enough to erase recent losses in a global tech rout driven by investors’ AI jitters. — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 24 June 2026 The months-long disruption of the Strait of Hormuz sent gas prices shooting up, creating pain at the pump for American motorists. — Daniel Yergin, Time, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoot up

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoot up was in 1890

Rhymes for shoot up

See All Rhymes for shoot up

Browse Nearby Words

shoot to kill
shoot up
shop
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoot up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoot%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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