Illustration of bolt
- bolt 3
1
a
: a lightning stroke
also
: thunderbolt
b
: a shaft or missile designed to be shot from a crossbow or catapult
especially
: a short stout usually blunt-headed arrow
2
a
: a wood or metal bar or rod used to fasten a door
b
: the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key
3
: a metal rod or pin for fastening objects together that usually has a head at one end and a screw thread at the other and is secured by a nut
4
: a roll of cloth or wallpaper of specified length
5
: a metal cylinder that drives the cartridge into the chamber of a firearm, locks the breech, and usually contains the firing pin and extractor
6
a
: a block of timber to be sawed or cut
b
: a short round section of a log
bolted; bolting; bolts
1
: to move suddenly or nervously : start
2
: to move or proceed rapidly : dash
3
a
: to break away from control or a set course
b
: to dart off or away : flee
4
: to break away from or oppose one's previous affiliation (as with a political party or sports team)
5
: to produce seed prematurely
bolted; bolting; bolts
Examples of bolt in a Sentence
Verb (1)
I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers
the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it
the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching
bolted out the cuss word without thinking
the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy
Adverb
She sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
There are three bolts underground.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
When governance is built in instead of bolted on, AI initiatives move faster.
—Art Gilliland, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bolt
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Embossed business cards, account ledgers, bins of bolts at the hardware store—all are pleasurable physical artifacts that have been more or less outmoded by technology.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
There are three bolts underground.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Verb
The series has developed a reputation for keeping children glued to the screen, as seen in videos that have gone viral on social media of babies bolting to the television upon hearing the marimba theme song.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
When governance is built in instead of bolted on, AI initiatives move faster.
—Art Gilliland, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bolt
Cite this Entry
“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolt. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bolt
1 of 3 noun1
: a missile (as an arrow) for a crossbow or catapult
2
a
: a lightning stroke : thunderbolt
b
: a sudden surprise
a bolt from the blue
3
: a sliding bar used to fasten a door
4
: the part of a lock worked by a key
5
: a metal pin or rod usually with a head at one end and a screw thread at the other that is used to hold something in place
6
: a roll of cloth or wallpaper
7
: the device that closes the breech of a firearm
bolt
2 of 3 verb1
: to move suddenly or nervously
2
: to move rapidly : dash
reporters bolted for the door
3
: run away sense 1
the horse shied and bolted
4
: to break away from or oppose one's political party
5
: to say thoughtlessly : blurt
6
: to fasten with a bolt
7
: to swallow hastily or without chewing
bolter
noun
bolt
3 of 3 noun
: an act of bolting
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