Shoot = to fire a gun, or to kick or throw a ball at a goal. Throw = to send something through the air with your hand (the general word). So say Throw me the keys!

2. Shoot! as an exclamation

Shoot! can mean “oh no!” (informal, mostly American) or “go on, say it!”. The situation tells you which one.

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You can conjugate to shoot. Now say it out loud.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple of shoot?+

The Past Simple of shoot is shot, the same for every person. The past participle is also shot. Shoot → shot → shot.

What are the different meanings of shoot?+

Shoot has many meanings: (1) to fire a gun. (2) to make a film. (3) to take photos. (4) to kick or throw the ball at the goal in sport (to get a goal is score). (5) to grow (plants): new shoots are the new small parts of a plant.

Is it shoot a film or make a film?+

Both are correct. Shoot a film means to record it with a camera: The film was shot in London. Make a film is the general phrase. A film shoot is the time when people record the film.

What does shoot mean as an exclamation?+

Shoot! has two meanings. (1) Informal, mostly American: a polite word people say instead of a rude word, when something goes wrong: Shoot! I forgot my keys. (2) Go on, say it: “Can I ask you something?” “Shoot!” The situation tells you which one.

Is it shot or shooted?+

Say shot. Shoot is irregular: its Past Simple and past participle are both shot. Shooted is a mistake.

Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →

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