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Definitions

like a shot

ADVERB
fast
Synonyms
STRONGEST
quick quickly rapidly soon swift swiftly
WEAK
apace chop-chop expeditiously flat-out fleetly full tilt hastily hurriedly in a flash in haste in nothing flat in short order like a flash like greased lightning like wildfire posthaste presto promptly pronto
Antonyms
STRONGEST
slowly
WEAK
slow
ADVERB
on the double
Synonyms
WEAK
chop-chop double-time expeditiously fast flat-out fleetly full tilt hastily hurried hurriedly in a flash in double time in haste in high gear lickety-split like greased lightning like wildfire promptly pronto quick quickly rapidly snappily speedily swift swiftly
ADVERB
promptly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
directly expeditiously hastily instantly quickly rapidly speedily swiftly
STRONG
pronto
WEAK
PDQ at once fast flat-out fleetly in nothing flat lickety-split now on the dot on the double on time posthaste punctually right away sharp straightaway unhesitatingly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
slowly
WEAK
late negligently
ADVERB
quickly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
expeditiously hastily hurriedly immediately instantaneously instantly promptly rapidly speedily swiftly
STRONG
apace chop-chop quick
WEAK
briskly flat-out fleetly full tilt in a flash in haste in nothing flat in short order lickety-split like a bat out of hell like a flash pronto swift
Antonyms
STRONGEST
eventually later slowly
ADVERB
rapidly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
briskly expeditiously fast immediately promptly speedily swiftly
WEAK
at speed flat out full tilt hastily hurriedly in a hurry in a rush in haste lickety-split posthaste precipitately with dispatch
Antonyms
STRONGEST
slowly sluggishly
WEAK
leisurely

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

White was on to him like a shot and touched down for a smash-and-grab that sickened England.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

I kind of knew that, but when she had that reaction, which was not feigned at all, that was like a shot of advice from the heart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

Asking a general-use chatbot for health help used to seem like a shot in the dark—just two years ago, a study found that ChatGPT could diagnose only 2 in 10 pediatric cases correctly.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2026

Both emerged like a shot of adrenaline after halftime.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

My fingers graze the arm of the couch, and like a shot, she sets the laptop aside and is there with me.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon