Shot or shut?
shot is an adjective meaning “Tired, weary”; shut is a verb meaning “To remove or block an opening, gap or passage through”. Use shot as an adjective and shut as a verb (shut is also an adjective: “Physically sealed, obstructed, folded together, etc”). In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) shot is about 2.8 times as common as shut.
What is the difference between shot and shut?
| shot | shut | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, verb, interjection | verb, adjective, noun |
| Meaning | Tired, weary Discharged, cleared, or rid of something The result of launching a projectile or bullet | To remove or block an opening, gap or passage through To make or become unreceptive Physically sealed, obstructed, folded together, etc |
| Example | I have to go to bed now; I’m shot | Please shut the door |
| Forms | none | shuts, shutting |
| Pronunciation | /ʃɒt/ /ʃɑt/ | /ʃʌt/ /ʃʊt/ /ʃɛt/ |
| In writing | 166 times per million words | 60 times per million words |
Sources: shot and shut in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of shot and shut
shot
- 1
Tired, weary
I have to go to bed now; I’m shot
- 2
The result of launching a projectile or bullet
The shot was wide of the mark
- 3
To load (a gun) with shot
- 4
colloquialAn expression of gratitude, similar to thank you
- 5
Discharged, cleared, or rid of something
- 6
The act of launching a ball or similar object toward a goal
They took the lead on a last-minute shot
- 7
To sell illegal drugs; to deal
- 8
colloquialWorn out or broken
The rear axle will have to be replaced. It’s shot
shut
- 1
To remove or block an opening, gap or passage through
Please shut the door
- 2
Physically sealed, obstructed, folded together, etc
A shut door barred our way into the house
- 3
The act or time of shutting; close
the shut of a door
- 4
UKA narrow alley or passage acting as a short cut through the buildings between two streets
- 5
To make or become unreceptive
He has shut his mind to new ideas
- 6
Not available for use or operation
Phone lines are now shut
- 7
A door or cover; a shutter
- 8
UKTo close (a business or venue) temporarily or permanently
They generally shut the museum each day at 6 pm
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, shot or shut?
shot appears 166 times per million words; shut 60 times per million words.
shot 166 times per million wordsshut 60 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).