shooting

1 of 2

noun

shoot·​ing ˈshü-tiŋ How to pronounce shooting (audio)
plural shootings
Synonyms of shootingnext
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

shooting

2 of 2

present participle of shoot entry 1

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.
Noun
Twelve people, including several minors, were injured in a shooting near Florida A&M University’s Bragg Memorial Stadium, where homecoming celebrations included a football game Saturday. — Samantha Cookinham, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026 Adebayo finished the first half with 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting from the field, 1-of-2 shooting on threes and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026 But a video recorded by a motorist on Interstate 10 captured part of the shooting, which had followed a chase. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 On Friday afternoon, the Israeli military had already begun bulldozing homes close to the site of the shooting. — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shooting

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing shooting

Rhymes for shooting

See All Rhymes for shooting

Browse Nearby Words

shoother
shooting
shooting board
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shooting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shooting. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

shooting

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

More from Merriam-Webster on shooting

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shooting

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