Shot vs. Shut — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 4, 2024
Shot refers to the act of firing a projectile or the action in various sports, while shut relates to closing something completely or preventing access.
Difference Between Shot and Shut
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
The term "shot" is primarily associated with the discharge of firearms or projectiles, emphasizing action and movement. Shut, on the other hand, denotes the act of closing something, highlighting cessation and barrier creation.
In sports, "shot" describes an attempt to score or hit a target, showing skill and attempt. Shut, whereas, is used in phrases like "shut out" to describe preventing an opponent from scoring, indicating prevention and defense.
"Shot" can also signify an attempt or effort in a broader sense, reflecting ambition and initiation. Shut emphasizes ending or restricting activities, often conveying finality and limitation.
A "shot" refers to a single photograph or scene captured, focusing on creation and capture. Shut is rarely used in a similar context but may describe actions like shutting the camera off, which involves stopping and concluding.
"Shot" is slang for an injection, highlighting the method of delivery and intervention. Shut does not have a direct medical counterpart but might be used in terms like "shut down" to describe organ failure, indicating cessation and failure.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Discharge of firearms; attempt in sports; effort
Closing something; preventing access
Context
Firearms, sports, general effort
Doors, windows, operations
Connotation
Action, movement, initiation
Cessation, barrier, limitation
Additional Meanings
A photograph; slang for an injection
Rarely used outside closing, except in phrases like "shut out"
Usage in Phrases
"Take a shot," "long shot"
"Shut down," "shut out"
Compare with Definitions
Shot
Attempt to score in sports.
She made an impressive shot from the halfway line.
Shut
Cease operations or activity.
The factory will shut down for the holidays.
Shot
Effort or attempt at something.
I'll give it a shot and try to fix it.
Shut
Prevent access or use.
The road is shut due to construction.
Shot
A photograph or scene captured.
That was an excellent shot of the sunset.
Shut
To close something firmly.
Please shut the door quietly.
Shot
Firing of a firearm.
The hunter took a shot at the deer.
Shut
Refers to closing something completely.
The shop is shut on Sundays.
Shot
Slang for an injection.
He received his flu shot today.
Shut
Seal off an entrance or passage.
We shut the windows before the storm hit.
Shot
The distance over which something is shot; the range.
Shut
To move (a door or lid, for example) so as to block passage through an opening.
Shot
An attempt to hit a target with a projectile
His shot at the bear missed by inches.
Shut
To fasten with a lock, catch, or latch
Shut the cabinet.
Shot
An attempt to reach a target with a rocket
A moon shot.
Shut
To block entrance to or exit from; close
Shut a corridor.
Shot
An attempt to score into a goal, as in soccer or hockey.
Shut
To confine in a closed space
Shut them in a cage.
Shot
The flight or path of a projectile in a game.
Shut
To exclude from a closed space
Shut the cats out of the house.
Shot
A sharply hit or driven ball or puck.
Shut
To fold up or bring together the parts of
Shut the book.
Shot
A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards
Took three shots to get out of the sand trap.
Shut
To cause to stop operating
Shut down a restaurant.
A school that was shut for the vacation.
Shot
A pointed or critical remark.
Shut
To move or become moved so as to block passage; close
A door that shuts by itself.
Shot
An attempt; a try
Took a shot at losing weight.
Shut
To stop operating, especially automatically
The electricity shuts off at midnight.
Shot
An opportunity
Gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.
Shut
The act or time of shutting.
Shot
A chance at odds; something to bet on
The horse was a four-to-one shot.
Shut
The line of connection between welded pieces of metal.
Shot
A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.
Shut
(transitive) To close, to stop from being open.
Please shut the door.
The light was so bright I had to shut my eyes.
Shot
Pl. shot Such projectiles, especially when fired in clusters, considered as a group.
Shut
(intransitive) To close, to stop being open.
If you wait too long, the automatic door will shut.
Shot
One of these pellets.
Shut
To close a business temporarily, or (of a business) to be closed.
The pharmacy is shut on Sunday.
Shot
(Sports) The heavy metal ball that is put for distance in the shot put.
Shut
(transitive) To confine in an enclosed area.
I shut the cat in the kitchen before going out.
Shot
One who shoots in a particular way
A good shot with the rifle and the bow.
Shut
(transitive) To catch or snag in the act of shutting something.
He's just gone and shut his finger in the door!
Shot
A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.
Shut
To preclude; to exclude; to bar out.
Shot
A detonation of an explosive charge.
Shut
Closed; not open.
A shut door barred our way into the house.
Shot
A photograph taken of a particular subject
Got a good shot of that last model.
Shut
Synonym of close
Shot
A single continuous recording made with a movie camera.
Shut
The act or time of shutting; close.
The shut of a door
Shot
A hypodermic injection.
Shut
A door or cover; a shutter.
Shot
A small amount given or applied at one time
A shot of oxygen.
Shut
The line or place where two pieces of metal are welded together.
Shot
A small amount of liquor, usually between 1 and 1 ½ ounces
Got out the vodka and measured two shots into the glass.
Shut
A narrow alley or passage acting as a short cut through the buildings between two streets.
Shot
A small drink
Sipped a shot of bourbon.
Drank a shot of espresso.
Shut
To close so as to hinder ingress or egress; as, to shut a door or a gate; to shut one's eyes or mouth.
Shot
A small amount of a liquid used as an ingredient in a beverage
Prepared a smoothie with a shot of wheatgrass.
Shut
To forbid entrance into; to prohibit; to bar; as, to shut the ports of a country by a blockade.
Shall that be shut to man which to the beastIs open?
Shot
An amount to be paid, as for drinks; a bill.
Shut
To preclude; to exclude; to bar out.
Shot
(Nautical) A length of chain equal to 15 fathoms (90 feet).
Shut
To fold together; to close over, as the fingers; to close by bringing the parts together; as, to shut the hand; to shut a book.
Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
When the scene of life is shut up, the slave will be above his master if he has acted better.
Shot
To load or weight with shot.
Shut
To close itself; to become closed; as, the door shuts; it shuts hard.
Shot
Past tense and past participle of shoot.
Shut
Closed or fastened; as, a shut door.
Shot
Of changeable or variegated color; iridescent.
Shut
Rid; clear; free; as, to get shut of a person.
Shot
Streaked or flecked with or as if with yarn of a different color
A blue suit shot with purple.
A forest glade that was shot with sunlight.
Shut
Formed by complete closure of the mouth passage, and with the nose passage remaining closed; stopped, as are the mute consonants, p, t, k, b, d, and hard g.
Shot
Interspersed or permeated with a distinctive quality
Her apology was shot with irony.
Shut
The act or time of shutting; close; as, the shut of a door.
Just then returned at shut of evening flowers.
Shot
Worn-out; ruined.
Shut
A door or cover; a shutter.
Shot
Exhausted; thoroughly tired.
Shut
The line or place where two pieces of metal are united by welding.
Shot
(colloquial) Worn out or broken.
The rear axle will have to be replaced. It’s shot.
Shut
Move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut;
Close the door
Shut the window
Shot
(of material, especially silk) Woven from warp and weft strands of different colours, resulting in an iridescent appearance.
The cloak was shot through with silver threads.
Shut
Become closed;
The windows closed with a loud bang
Shot
Tired, weary.
I have to go to bed now; I’m shot.
Shut
Prevent from entering; shut out;
The trees were shutting out all sunlight
This policy excludes people who have a criminal record from entering the country
Shot
Discharged, cleared, or rid of something.
Shut
Not open;
The door slammed shut
Shot
Scarred silly or crazy of something or someone usually due to a traumatic experience with said fear.
This man is wolf shot from seeing too many horror movies with wolves in them, so much so that even the mention of the word “wolf” makes him run in terror and that need committed to the insane asylum.
Shut
Used especially of mouth or eyes;
He sat quietly with closed eyes
His eyes were shut against the sunlight
Shot
The result of launching a projectile or bullet.
The shot was wide off the mark.
Shot
(sports) The act of launching a ball or similar object toward a goal.
They took the lead on a last-minute shot.
Shot
(athletics) The heavy iron ball used for the shot put.
The shot flew twenty metres, and nearly landed on the judge's foot.
Shot
(uncountable) Small metal balls used as ammunition.
Shot
Metal balls (or similar) used as ammunition; not necessarily small.
Shot
An opportunity or attempt.
I'd like just one more shot at winning this game.
Shot
A remark or comment, especially one which is critical or insulting.
Shot
A punch or other physical blow.
Shot
A measure of alcohol, usually spirits, as taken either from a shot-glass or directly from the bottle, equivalent to about 44 milliliters; 1.5 ounces. ("pony shot"= 30 milliliters; 1 fluid ounce)
I'd like a shot of whisky in my coffee.
Shot
A single serving of espresso.
Shot
(archaic) A reckoning, a share of a tavern bill, etc.
Shot
A single snapshot or an unbroken sequence of photographic film exposures, or the digital equivalent; an unedited sequence of frames.
We got a good shot of the hummingbirds mating.
Shot
(medicine) A vaccination or injection.
I went to the doctor to get a shot for malaria.
Shot
A home run that scores one, two, or three runs (a four run home run is usually referred to as a grand slam).
His solo shot in the seventh inning ended up winning the game.
Shot
(US federal prison system) Written documentation of a behavior infraction.
Shot
(fisheries) A cast of one or more nets.
Shot
(fisheries) A place or spot for setting nets.
Shot
(fisheries) A single draft or catch of fish made.
Shot
A charge to be paid, a scot or shout.
Drink up. It's his shot.
Shot
Simple past tense and past participle of shoot
Shot
A share or proportion; a reckoning; a scot.
Here no shots are where all shares be.
A man is never . . . welcome to a place till some certain shot be paid and the hostess say "Welcome."
Shot
The act of shooting; discharge of a firearm or other weapon which throws a missile.
He caused twenty shot of his greatest cannon to be made at the king's army.
Shot
A missile weapon, particularly a ball or bullet; specifically, whatever is discharged as a projectile from firearms or cannon by the force of an explosive.
Shot
The flight of a missile, or the distance which it is, or can be, thrown; as, the vessel was distant more than a cannon shot.
Shot
A marksman; one who practices shooting; as, an exellent shot.
Shot
A cast of a net.
Shot
A spherical weight, to be put, or thrown, in competition for distance.
Shot
A stroke, throw, or other action to propel a ball or other game piece in certain games, as in billiards, hockey, basketball, curling, etc.; also, a move, as in chess.
Shot
A guess; conjecture; also, an attempt.
Shot
An attempt to score in a game
Shot
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand;
It took two strokes to get out of the bunker
A good shot require good balance and tempo
He left me an almost impossible shot
Shot
The act of firing a projectile;
His shooting was slow but accurate
Shot
A chance to do something;
He wanted a shot at the champion
Shot
The act of putting a liquid into the body by means of a syringe;
The nurse gave him a flu shot
Shot
A solid missile discharged from a firearm;
The shot buzzed past his ear
Shot
An informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera;
My snapshots haven't been developed yet
He tried to get unposed shots of his friends
Shot
A consecutive series of pictures that constitutes a unit of action in a film
Shot
Informal words for any attempt or effort;
He gave it his best shot
He took a stab at forecasting
Shot
A blow hard enough to cause injury;
He is still recovering from a shot to his leg
I caught him with a solid shot to the chin
Shot
A small drink of liquor;
He poured a shot of whiskey
Shot
Sports equipment consisting of a heavy metal ball used in the shot put;
He trained at putting the shot
Shot
A person who shoots (usually with respect to their ability to shoot);
He is a crack shot
A poor shooter
Shot
The launching of a missile or spacecraft to a specified destination
Shot
An explosive charge used in blasting
Shot
An estimate based on little or no information
Shot
Varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles;
Changeable taffeta
Chatoyant (or shot) silk
A dragonfly hovered, vibrating and iridescent
Common Curiosities
How does "shot" relate to photography?
It describes capturing a photograph.
Is getting a "shot" always medical?
Mostly, but it can also mean trying something new.
What does it mean to shut something?
To close it completely or prevent its use.
Can "shot" refer to non-violent actions?
Yes, it can describe sports attempts or efforts in general.
Is "shut" only related to physical closures?
Primarily, but it can also refer to ceasing operations.
Can "shut" have positive connotations?
Yes, in contexts like safety or conservation (e.g., shutting down a hazardous facility).
What does "shut out" mean in sports?
Preventing the opposing team from scoring.
Do photographers say "take a shot" or "shoot"?
Both, but "take a shot" specifically refers to capturing a photo.
Can "shot" be used in a positive context?
Yes, when referring to opportunities or successful attempts.
What is the action of taking a shot?
Firing a projectile or making an attempt in sports.
What's the difference between "shot" and "shoot"?
"Shot" is the past tense or noun form, while "shoot" is the verb.
Is "shut" ever used positively?
Yes, when closure is necessary for safety or efficiency.
What is a "long shot"?
An attempt with low probability of success.
How can something be "shut down"?
By ceasing its operations or turning it off.
Can you "shut" something partially?
No, "shut" implies complete closure.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Sacred vs. Secular
Next Comparison
Okay vs. FineAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
