Shot vs. Hit — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 14, 2024
"Shot" primarily refers to the act of shooting, often using a firearm or camera, while "hit" implies making contact, typically with force or intent.
Difference Between Shot and Hit
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A "shot" generally describes the action of firing a gun or releasing a projectile, capturing a photograph, or administering a drug via injection. In contrast, "hit" refers to the act of striking something or someone, often with a hand, tool, or weapon, or achieving a successful endeavor in entertainment or sports.
In sports, a "shot" can indicate an attempt to score, such as in basketball or soccer, whereas "hit" in sports like baseball refers to successfully striking the ball with the bat so that it lands in play.
In the context of photography and film, "shot" can describe a single photograph or sequence of video captured during filming, while "hit" is not commonly used in this context but might refer to a successful or popular movie or show.
When discussing vaccinations or medications, a "shot" is a common term for an injection, whereas "hit" does not have a relevant meaning in medical contexts and is instead sometimes slang for a dose of drugs, particularly in illicit contexts.
In entertainment, a "hit" typically describes a song, movie, or show that becomes extremely popular or commercially successful, while "shot" might be used metaphorically to describe someone's attempt at achieving success in the industry.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The act of firing a weapon, taking a photo, or injecting a substance.
Striking something or achieving success.
Usage in Sports
Refers to an attempt to score or an action in shooting sports.
Means to successfully make contact in games like baseball.
Medical Context
Commonly used to refer to injections.
Rarely used, occasionally slang for a dose of drugs.
Entertainment
Can describe an attempt at success or a single film/photo sequence.
Often used to denote commercial success, like a popular song.
Common Collocations
Take a shot, long shot, gunshot.
Hit hard, hit the jackpot, smash hit.
Compare with Definitions
Shot
An injection, usually of a vaccine or medicine.
Flu shots are administered annually.
Hit
A successful song, film, or show.
That song became a hit overnight.
Shot
An instance of firing a weapon.
The hunter took a careful shot at the deer.
Hit
To affect or touch emotionally.
The sad movie really hit home for many viewers.
Shot
A try or attempt at something.
Give it your best shot at the competition.
Hit
Coming into contact with something.
The hail hit the windows during the storm.
Shot
A photograph or scene in a movie.
The director planned the next shot meticulously.
Hit
To strike something forcefully.
The boxer hit his opponent hard in the final round.
Shot
An attempt to score in sports.
She made an impressive shot from mid-court.
Hit
Achieving an intended target.
The new policy hit its mark with the public.
Shot
The distance over which something is shot; the range.
Hit
To come into contact with forcefully; strike
The car hit the guardrail.
Shot
An attempt to hit a target with a projectile
His shot at the bear missed by inches.
Hit
To cause to come into contact
She hit her hand against the wall.
Shot
An attempt to reach a target with a rocket
A moon shot.
Hit
To deal a blow to
He hit the punching bag.
Shot
An attempt to score into a goal, as in soccer or hockey.
Hit
To cause an implement or missile to come forcefully into contact with
Hit the nail with a hammer.
Shot
The flight or path of a projectile in a game.
Hit
To press or push (a key or button, for example)
Hit the return key by mistake.
Shot
A sharply hit or driven ball or puck.
Hit
To reach with a propelled ball or puck
Hit the running back with a pass.
Shot
A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards
Took three shots to get out of the sand trap.
Hit
To score in this way
She hit the winning basket.
Shot
A pointed or critical remark.
Hit
To perform (a shot or maneuver) successfully
Couldn't hit the jump shot.
Shot
An attempt; a try
Took a shot at losing weight.
Hit
To propel with a stroke or blow
Hit the ball onto the green.
Shot
An opportunity
Gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.
Hit
To execute (a base hit) successfully
Hit a single.
Shot
A chance at odds; something to bet on
The horse was a four-to-one shot.
Hit
To bat against (a pitcher or kind of pitch) successfully
Can't hit a slider.
Shot
A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.
Hit
To affect, especially adversely
The company was hit hard by the recession. Influenza hit the elderly the hardest.
Shot
Pl. shot Such projectiles, especially when fired in clusters, considered as a group.
Hit
To be affected by (a negative development)
Their marriage hit a bad patch.
Shot
One of these pellets.
Hit
To win (a prize, for example), especially in a lottery.
Shot
(Sports) The heavy metal ball that is put for distance in the shot put.
Hit
To arise suddenly in the mind of; occur to
It finally hit him that she might be his long-lost sister.
Shot
One who shoots in a particular way
A good shot with the rifle and the bow.
Hit
(Informal) To go to or arrive at
We hit the beach early.
Shot
A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.
Hit
(Informal) To attain or reach
Monthly sales hit a new high. She hit 40 on her last birthday.
Shot
A detonation of an explosive charge.
Hit
To produce or represent accurately
Trying to hit the right note.
Shot
A photograph taken of a particular subject
Got a good shot of that last model.
Hit
(Games) To deal cards to.
Shot
A single continuous recording made with a movie camera.
Hit
(Sports) To bite on or take (bait or a lure). Used of a fish.
Shot
A hypodermic injection.
Hit
To strike or deal a blow.
Shot
A small amount given or applied at one time
A shot of oxygen.
Hit
To come into contact with something; collide.
Shot
A small amount of liquor, usually between 1 and 1 ½ ounces
Got out the vodka and measured two shots into the glass.
Hit
To attack
The raiders hit at dawn.
Shot
A small drink
Sipped a shot of bourbon.
Drank a shot of espresso.
Hit
To happen or occur
The storm hit without warning.
Shot
A small amount of a liquid used as an ingredient in a beverage
Prepared a smoothie with a shot of wheatgrass.
Hit
To achieve or find something desired or sought
Finally hit on the answer.
Hit upon a solution to the problem.
Shot
An amount to be paid, as for drinks; a bill.
Hit
(Baseball) To bat or bat well
Their slugger hasn't been hitting lately.
Shot
(Nautical) A length of chain equal to 15 fathoms (90 feet).
Hit
(Sports) To score by shooting, especially in basketball
Hit on 7 of 8 shots.
Shot
To load or weight with shot.
Hit
To ignite a mixture of air and fuel in the cylinders. Used of an internal-combustion engine.
Shot
Past tense and past participle of shoot.
Hit
A collision or impact.
Shot
Of changeable or variegated color; iridescent.
Hit
A successfully executed shot, blow, thrust, or throw.
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.
Hit
(Sports) A deliberate collision with an opponent, such as a body check in ice hockey.
Shot
Interspersed or permeated with a distinctive quality
Her apology was shot with irony.
Hit
A successful or popular venture
A Broadway hit.
Shot
Worn-out; ruined.
Hit
A match of data in a search string against data that one is searching.
Shot
Exhausted; thoroughly tired.
Hit
A connection made to a website over the internet or another network
Our company's website gets about 250,000 hits daily.
Shot
(colloquial) Worn out or broken.
The rear axle will have to be replaced. It’s shot.
Hit
An apt or effective remark.
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.
Hit
Abbr. H(Baseball) A base hit.
Shot
Tired, weary.
I have to go to bed now; I’m shot.
Hit
A dose of a narcotic drug.
Shot
Discharged, cleared, or rid of something.
Hit
A puff of a cigarette or a pipe.
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.
Hit
(Slang) A murder planned and carried out usually by a member of an underworld syndicate.
Shot
The result of launching a projectile or bullet.
The shot was wide off the mark.
Hit
To strike.
Shot
(sports) The act of launching a ball or similar object toward a goal.
They took the lead on a last-minute shot.
Hit
(transitive) To administer a blow to, directly or with a weapon or missile.
One boy hit the other.
Shot
(athletics) The heavy iron ball used for the shot put.
The shot flew twenty metres, and nearly landed on the judge's foot.
Hit
(transitive) To come into contact with forcefully and suddenly.
The ball hit the fence.
Shot
(uncountable) Small metal balls used as ammunition.
Hit
(intransitive) To strike against something.
Shot
Metal balls (or similar) used as ammunition; not necessarily small.
Hit
(transitive) To activate a button or key by pressing and releasing it.
Hit the Enter key to continue.
Shot
An opportunity or attempt.
I'd like just one more shot at winning this game.
Hit
To kill a person, usually on the instructions of a third party.
Hit him tonight and throw the body in the river.
Shot
A remark or comment, especially one which is critical or insulting.
Hit
To attack, especially amphibiously.
If intelligence had been what it should have been, I don't think we'd ever have hit that island.
Shot
A punch or other physical blow.
Hit
To affect someone, as if dealing a blow to that person.
Their coffee really hits the spot.
I used to listen to that song all the time, but it hits different(ly) now.
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.
Hit
To manage to touch (a target) in the right place.
I hit the jackpot.
Shot
A single serving of espresso.
Hit
To switch on.
Somebody's been here! Hit the lights!
Shot
(archaic) A reckoning, a share of a tavern bill, etc.
Hit
To briefly visit.
We hit the grocery store on the way to the park.
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.
Hit
To encounter an obstacle or other difficulty.
We hit a lot of traffic coming back from the movies.
Shot
(medicine) A vaccination or injection.
I went to the doctor to get a shot for malaria.
Hit
(heading) To attain, to achieve.
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.
Hit
To reach or achieve.
The movie hits theaters in December.
The temperature could hit 110°F tomorrow.
We hit Detroit at one in the morning but kept driving through the night.
Shot
(US federal prison system) Written documentation of a behavior infraction.
Hit
(intransitive) To meet or reach what was aimed at or desired; to succeed, often by luck.
Shot
(fisheries) A cast of one or more nets.
Hit
To guess; to light upon or discover.
Shot
(fisheries) A place or spot for setting nets.
Hit
(transitive) To affect negatively.
The economy was hit by a recession.
The hurricane hit his fishing business hard.
Shot
(fisheries) A single draft or catch of fish made.
Hit
(metaphorically) To attack.
Shot
A charge to be paid, a scot or shout.
Drink up. It's his shot.
Hit
To make a play.
Shot
Simple past tense and past participle of shoot
Hit
In blackjack, to deal a card to.
Hit me.
Shot
An expression of gratitude, similar to thank you.
Hit
To come up to bat.
Jones hit for the pitcher.
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."
Hit
(backgammon) To take up, or replace by a piece belonging to the opposing player; said of a single unprotected piece on a point.
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.
Hit
To use; to connect to.
The external web servers hit DBSRV7, but the internal web server hits DBSRV3.
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.
Hit
To inhale an amount of smoke from a narcotic substance, particularly marijuana.
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.
Hit
(of an exercise) to affect, to work a body part.
This is another great exercise which hits the long head.
Shot
A marksman; one who practices shooting; as, an exellent shot.
Hit
To work out
With that said, the group hitting their legs just once a week still made gains.
Shot
A cast of a net.
Hit
A blow; a punch; a striking against; the collision of one body against another; the stroke that touches anything.
The hit was very slight.
Shot
A spherical weight, to be put, or thrown, in competition for distance.
Hit
Something very successful, such as a song, film, or video game, that receives widespread recognition and acclaim.
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.
Hit
An attack on a location, person or people.
Shot
A guess; conjecture; also, an attempt.
Hit
A collision of a projectile with the target.
Shot
An attempt to score in a game
Hit
In the game of Battleship, a correct guess at where one's opponent ship is.
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
Hit
A match found by searching a computer system or search engine
Shot
The act of firing a projectile;
His shooting was slow but accurate
Hit
(Internet) A measured visit to a web site, a request for a single file from a web server.
My site received twice as many hits after being listed in a search engine.
Shot
A chance to do something;
He wanted a shot at the champion
Hit
An approximately correct answer in a test set.
Shot
The act of putting a liquid into the body by means of a syringe;
The nurse gave him a flu shot
Hit
(baseball) The complete play, when the batter reaches base without the benefit of a walk, error, or fielder’s choice.
The catcher got a hit to lead off the fifth.
Shot
A solid missile discharged from a firearm;
The shot buzzed past his ear
Hit
(colloquial) A dose of an illegal or addictive drug.
Where am I going to get my next hit?
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
Hit
A premeditated murder done for criminal or political purposes.
Shot
A consecutive series of pictures that constitutes a unit of action in a film
Hit
(dated) A peculiarly apt expression or turn of thought; a phrase which hits the mark.
A happy hit
Shot
Informal words for any attempt or effort;
He gave it his best shot
He took a stab at forecasting
Hit
(backgammon) A move that throws one of the opponent's men back to the entering point.
Shot
An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect;
His parting shot was `drop dead'
She threw shafts of sarcasm
She takes a dig at me every chance she gets
Hit
(backgammon) A game won after the adversary has removed some of his men. It counts for less than a gammon.
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
Hit
Very successful.
The band played their hit song to the delight of the fans.
Shot
A small drink of liquor;
He poured a shot of whiskey
Hit
(dialectal) It.
Shot
Sports equipment consisting of a heavy metal ball used in the shot put;
He trained at putting the shot
Hit
It.
Shot
A person who shoots (usually with respect to their ability to shoot);
He is a crack shot
A poor shooter
Hit
To reach with a stroke or blow; to strike or touch, usually with force; especially, to reach or touch (an object aimed at).
I think you have hit the mark.
Shot
The launching of a missile or spacecraft to a specified destination
Hit
To reach or attain exactly; to meet according to the occasion; to perform successfully; to attain to; to accord with; to be conformable to; to suit.
Birds learning tunes, and their endeavors to hit the notes right.
There you hit him; . . . that argument never fails with him.
Whose saintly visage is too brightTo hit the sense of human sight.
He scarcely hit my humor.
Shot
An explosive charge used in blasting
Hit
To guess; to light upon or discover.
Shot
An estimate based on little or no information
Hit
To take up, or replace by a piece belonging to the opposing player; - said of a single unprotected piece on a point.
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
Hit
To meet or come in contact; to strike; to clash; - followed by against or on.
If bodies be extension alone, how can they move and hit one against another?
Corpuscles, meeting with or hitting on those bodies, become conjoined with them.
Hit
To meet or reach what was aimed at or desired; to succeed, - often with implied chance, or luck.
And oft it hitsWhere hope is coldest and despair most fits.
And millions miss for one that hits.
Hit
A striking against; the collision of one body against another; the stroke that touches anything.
So he the famed Cilician fencer praised,And, at each hit, with wonder seems amazed.
Hit
A stroke of success in an enterprise, as by a fortunate chance; as, he made a hit;
What late he called a blessing, now was wit,And God's good providence, a lucky hit.
Hit
A peculiarly apt expression or turn of thought; a phrase which hits the mark; as, a happy hit.
Hit
A game won at backgammon after the adversary has removed some of his men. It counts less than a gammon.
Hit
A striking of the ball; as, a safe hit; a foul hit; - sometimes used specifically for a base hit.
Hit
An act of murder performed for hire, esp. by a professional assassin.
Hit
(baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball);
He came all the way around on Williams' hit
Hit
The act of contacting one thing with another;
Repeated hitting raised a large bruise
After three misses she finally got a hit
Hit
A conspicuous success;
That song was his first hit and marked the beginning of his career
That new Broadway show is a real smasher
The party went with a bang
Hit
(physics) an brief event in which two or more bodies come together;
The collision of the particles resulted in an exchange of energy and a change of direction
Hit
A dose of a narcotic drug
Hit
A murder carried out by an underworld syndicate;
It has all the earmarks of a Mafia hit
Hit
A connection made via the internet to another website;
WordNet gets many hits from users worldwide
Hit
Cause to move by striking;
Hit a ball
Hit
Hit against; come into sudden contact with;
The car hit a tree
He struck the table with his elbow
Hit
Affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely;
We were hit by really bad weather
He was stricken with cancer when he was still a teenager
The earthquake struck at midnight
Hit
Deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument;
He hit her hard in the face
Hit
Reach a destination, either real or abstract;
We hit Detroit by noon
The water reached the doorstep
We barely made it to the finish line
I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts
Hit
Reach a point in time, or a certain state or level;
The thermometer hit 100 degrees
This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour
Hit
Hit with a missile from a weapon
Hit
Cause to experience suddenly;
Panic struck me
An interesting idea hit her
A thought came to me
The thought struck terror in our minds
They were struck with fear
Hit
Make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target;
The Germans struck Poland on Sept. 1, 1939
We must strike the enemy's oil fields
In the fifth inning, the Giants struck, sending three runners home to win the game 5 to 2
Hit
Hit the intended target or goal
Hit
Produce by manipulating keys or strings of musical instruments, also metaphorically;
The pianist strikes a middle C
Strike `z' on the keyboard
Her comments struck a sour note
Hit
Encounter by chance;
I stumbled across a long-lost cousin last night in a restaurant
Hit
Gain points in a game;
The home team scored many times
He hit a home run
He hit .300 in the past season
Hit
Consume to excess;
Hit the bottle
Hit
Kill intentionally and with premeditation;
The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered
Hit
Drive something violently into a location;
He hit his fist on the table
She struck her head on the low ceiling
Common Curiosities
What does it mean if a movie is a "hit"?
It means the movie is very successful, often both critically and commercially.
Can the term "hit" be used in a non-violent context?
Yes, "hit" can refer to anything from a successful product to being affected emotionally.
Is a "shot" only related to guns?
No, "shot" can also mean an attempt at something, a photo, or a medical injection.
What does "hit the mark" mean?
It means to achieve or fulfill an intended goal or target accurately.
How is "shot" used in medical terms?
It typically refers to an injection of medicine or a vaccine.
Does "hit" have a specific meaning in music?
Yes, in music, a "hit" is a song that gains substantial popularity and commercial success.
What does "hit hard" mean in common usage?
It can refer to something impacting with great force or having a strong emotional effect.
Can "hit" be used to describe the impact of policies or decisions?
Yes, it can describe the effect or success of policies or decisions in various contexts.
Can "shot" refer to an attempt in contexts other than sports?
Yes, "shot" can metaphorically mean any attempt at success in various fields.
What does it mean when someone takes a shot in sports?
In sports, taking a shot refers to making an attempt to score points.
What does "take a shot at something" mean?
It means to attempt something, often with the implication of a challenge.
How can the term "hit" be used in economics?
"Hit" can refer to a product or strategy that performs exceptionally well in the market.
What does "give it a shot" imply?
It suggests trying something, typically with an optimistic attitude towards success.
Is a "shot" in filmmaking different from a photographic shot?
Both involve capturing images, but in filmmaking, a shot includes motion and is part of a sequence.
What is the difference between a "gunshot" and a "punch hit"?
A "gunshot" is the act of firing a gun, while a "punch hit" involves striking with a fist.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
