bolt

verb

Definition of boltnext
1
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
2
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

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3
as in to race
to proceed or move quickly the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it

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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 Dyson built the CameraJet around 16 million lines of code and a model trained on 470,000 dental images, bolting a camera, pump, fluid system and software onto a device people have historically cleaned with nylon bristles. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 The move will bolt-on Outreach to a creators roster at The Team that includes Livvy Dunne, Taylen Biggs, Grant Horvat, The Bryan Bros, MatPat, Abby Baffoe and more. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 On the very next play, Walker bolted 22 yards for a touchdown and 30-19 lead. — Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 With third base open, Crews and Abrams bolted, and both slid in safely. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
  1. fly
  2. jump
  3. race
  4. exclaim
  5. inhale
  6. flee
  7. startle
  8. speed
Verb
  • The company had been gearing up to fly several more this year having already been given approval to fly as many as 12 times a year.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
  • For the 31st time as secretary of state, Marco Rubio has left on a trip abroad, flying to Uzbekistan and later India amid rumblings that America's top diplomat is ignoring pressing matters in favor of politically safer visits and meetings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • But while most young people are struggling to land their first opportunity, some have jumped the line by building their own small businesses and startups—and young founders are now ramping up hiring even as companies across industries slow theirs.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Sustained Spanish Boom Spanish premieres at home jumped a record 83% between 2021-2025, from 40 to 73 local fiction premieres.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • While an ordinary walk might leave her mind racing toward work, looking for a particular color gave it something else to do, effectively putting all that other mental chatter on mute.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Together, the symbols represent more than 280 years of racing history and state pride, officials say.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of race
Verb
  • Glasper exclaimed afterward, before jovially striking a pose onstage.
    — William E. Ketchum III, VIBE.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Caitlin Clark exclaimed, pretty much the millisecond her coach finished.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of exclaim
Verb
  • And so, for the brand, only the most breathable, and healthily inhaled, natural materials will suffice.
    — Jaklin Romine Oct. 15, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Those products are made with tiny particles that are more likely to be inhaled or absorbed by marine organisms.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of inhale
Verb
  • The case centers on the Cuban government shooting down two Brothers to the Rescue flights, a civilian rescue group dedicated to saving refugees fleeing the authoritarian Castro regime — then run by Raul Castro’s older brother Fidel.
    — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Several reports say the attackers arrived on a motorcycle and fled after firing.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of flee
Verb
  • The parents admit to some corporal punishment, but of a mild sort—the kind that might startle a child but which wouldn’t do bodily harm.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026
  • However, startled by the activation of the security system, the suspect fled the scene without stealing any loot.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • Ambrossi can’t sit still, and has left his hotel to speed-walk through the city, speaking rapidly and barely glancing at his phone screen.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Supporters say Prop 45 will speed up environmental review for essential housing, transportation, water, health, education and other projects, cutting costly delays and passing the savings on to consumers.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of speed

Phrases Containing bolt

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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 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bolt

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bolt

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