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: the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key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
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Mario also sparked nearly 2,900 lightning bolts in the eastern half of the county on Thursday, which is even rarer for the final days of summer.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
McNichols, an eight-year NFL veteran entering his second year with Washington, broke away from the line of scrimmage to bolt down field for a career-long 60-yard rush.
—Caden Senn, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
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
According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, dogs that suddenly bolt are often acting on instinct rather than misbehaving.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Mario also sparked nearly 2,900 lightning bolts in the eastern half of the county on Thursday, which is even rarer for the final days of summer.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Belief spread to the basepaths, where Jake Meyers bolted from second and sprinted for home.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
McNichols, an eight-year NFL veteran entering his second year with Washington, broke away from the line of scrimmage to bolt down field for a career-long 60-yard rush.
—Caden Senn, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bolt
Cite this Entry
“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolt. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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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