gunshot
gb/ɡˈʌnʃˌɑt/ us/ɡˈʌnʃˌɑt/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
sound of a gun firing
the noise you hear when someone fires a gun
Usage pattern:
hear a gunshot; the sound of a gunshot; a gunshot rings out
Common mistake:
Learners may use *gunshot* where *shot* is more natural for the action (e.g., “He fired a shot”). *Gunshot* often focuses on the sound.
Synonyms
shot (More general; can refer to the sound or the act.)
|
gunfire (Usually refers to repeated shooting rather than one sound.)
Collocations
hear a gunshot
|a single gunshot
|multiple gunshots
|the sound of a gunshot
|gunshots rang out
|gunshots echoed
|a gunshot in the distance
|a sudden gunshot
|the first gunshot
|followed by gunshots
Themes
crime
|violence
|emergencies
Examples
- We heard a gunshot and everyone ducked.
- A gunshot rang out from the alley behind the store.
- The gunshots echoed through the empty street.
Learner examples
- I heard a gunshot outside.
- The gunshot was very loud.
Noun
B2
event
2
a single shot fired
one time when a gun is fired
Usage pattern:
fire [number] gunshots; [number] gunshots were fired
Common mistake:
In many contexts, *shot* is more common than *gunshot* (e.g., “two shots were fired”). *Gunshot* is frequent in news and police reports.
Synonyms
shot (Most common everyday term for one firing.)
|
discharge (More formal/technical; emphasizes the weapon being fired.)
Collocations
fire a gunshot
|two gunshots were fired
|several gunshots were fired
|a gunshot was fired into the air
|the first gunshot
|exchange gunshots
|a volley of gunshots
|report of gunshots
|after the gunshots
|gunshots were heard
Themes
crime
|violence
|military
Examples
- Witnesses said two gunshots were fired near the entrance.
- Someone fired a gunshot into the air to scare the crowd.
- Police arrived minutes after the gunshots.
Learner examples
- Three gunshots were fired.
- I called the police after the gunshots.
Noun
C1
entity
3
wound caused by a bullet
an injury from a bullet
Usage pattern:
a gunshot to the [body part]; die from a gunshot; treated for a gunshot
Common mistake:
Learners may think *gunshot* only means the sound. In news/medical contexts it can also mean the injury (e.g., “a gunshot to the chest”).
Synonyms
bullet wound (Direct and explicit about the cause.)
Collocations
a gunshot to the chest
|a gunshot to the leg
|a gunshot injury
|a gunshot wound
|fatal gunshot
|survive a gunshot
|die from a gunshot
|treated for a gunshot
|suffer a gunshot
|a gunshot victim
Themes
health
|crime
|emergencies
Examples
- He was treated for a gunshot to the shoulder.
- The victim died from a gunshot to the head.
- Doctors said the gunshot narrowly missed an artery.
Learner examples
- He has a gunshot injury.
- She survived a gunshot.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gunshot
IPA
GB/ɡˈʌnʃˌɑt/
US/ɡˈʌnʃˌɑt/
Syllables & stress
gun - shot (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (gun)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gunshot
- Plural: gunshot, gunshots
Word family
Expressions
gunshot residue
1/ɡˈʌnʃˌɑt ɹˈɛzədˌu/
fixed phrase
technical
particles left after firing
very small bits that may be found after a gun is fired
Examples
- Police tested his hands for gunshot residue.
- The lab found gunshot residue on the jacket sleeve.
- Gunshot residue can be washed off or transferred by contact.
gunshot victim
1/ɡˈʌnʃˌɑt vˈɪktɪm/
fixed phrase
person shot by a gun
a person hurt by a bullet
Examples
- Two gunshot victims were taken to the hospital.
- The paramedics treated the gunshot victim at the scene.
- The clinic offers counseling for gunshot victims and their families.
within gunshot (of)
1/wɪðˈɪn ɡˈʌnʃˌɑt əv/
fixed phrase
near enough to be heard
very near; near enough to hear a gunshot
Examples
- There were protesters within gunshot of the building.
- They set up camp within gunshot of the border.
- No one else was within gunshot when it happened.