bolt

verb

Definition of boltnext
1
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to race
to proceed or move quickly the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fly
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to exclaim
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling bolted out the cuss word without thinking

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5
as in to inhale
to swallow or eat greedily the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bolt Alongside general manager Ron Rivera, Lupoi is monetizing everything that isn’t bolted to the concrete. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Two Ohio men accused of shoplifting from a Kroger were pulled over by Miami Township police on July 27, and one of them, later identified as Kaamil O'Berry, bolted from the car and fled on foot, according to WKRC. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Romanch Mahajan, 18, was thrown from a carriage on June 17 after Samson, the horse pulling the carriage, bolted, collided with another carriage, and toppled over. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 30 July 2026 To save the cost and effort of pumping millions of liters of seawater solely to obtain minerals, the researchers propose bolting modular reactors onto coastal desalination plants, which already move enormous quantities of the stuff. — New Atlas, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
  1. jump
  2. race
  3. fly
  4. exclaim
  5. inhale
  6. startle
  7. speed
  8. flee
Verb
  • Prosecutors say after killing her children, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a second-story window, leaving her partially paralyzed.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • On the fourth rep, Nixon jumped an out route and had a chance for an interception, but dropped it.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • With France experiencing its driest year ever, a new fire raced through woodlands overnight in the Landes region on the southwest coast.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • On Wednesday afternoon, Alejandro Eder, the mayor of Cali, told reporters that rescue teams continue to find signs of people alive under the rubble and are racing to save them.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of race
Verb
  • When Aemond refuses to fight, Aegon conscripts him to fly to Tumbleton to deal with their uppity little brother.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Some more images show Kidman, Bullock, 62, King, 26, and Williams, 29, wearing flowing gowns while hooked onto wires, seemingly filming a scene that involves flying, in front of a blue screen.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • Kornacki then exclaimed, trying to collect his soaked papers.
    — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Kiana's older sister Lani exclaimed, while lovingly tickling the baby.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 28 July 2026
Definition of exclaim
Verb
  • People are thought to get infected by inhaling the amoeba from windblown dust or by getting contaminated soil or water in a wound.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Also called square breathing, this four-step method asks children to inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts and hold again for four counts.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of inhale
Verb
  • The 10-episode first season (critics received six for review) opens in the early hours of the morning, when Anna is startled awake by a phone call.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Witness Hoon Chan Sim, 53, was sitting on a park lawn with his dog near West Drive when he was startled by the squeal of braking tires, and spun around to see the horrific collision.
    — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • Eun-sae, who has heard Tae-ha speaking Korean, speeds up on her motorbike to whisk Tae-ha away from danger.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That could speed assistance but might reduce how much and how often FEMA helps.
    — Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of speed
Verb
  • The driver, who is accused of fleeing the scene, is now facing charges.
    — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after the government’s fall in December 2024 and received political asylum.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of flee

Phrases Containing bolt

Browse Nearby Words

bolsters
bolt
bolted
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Cite this Entry

“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bolt

Nglish: Translation of bolt for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bolt

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