Phrase guide

warning shot

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: A shot fired as a warning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An action intended to act as a warning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shot across the bow, shot across the bows

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: предупредителен изстрел (predupreditelen izstrel) — shot fired
  • Dutch: waarschuwingsschot — shot fired
  • Finnish: varoituslaukaus — shot fired
  • French: tir de sommation — shot fired
  • French: tir de semonce — shot fired
  • French: coup de semonce — shot fired
  • German: Warnschuss — shot fired
  • Italian: colpo di avvertimento — shot fired
  • Polish: strzał ostrzegawczy — shot fired
  • Spanish: disparo advirtiente — shot fired
  • Spanish: disparo advertidor — shot fired
  • Swedish: varningsskott — shot fired
  • Turkish: uyarı atışı — shot fired
  • Turkish: uyarı ateşi — shot fired
  • Finnish: varoituslaukaus — action intended as a warning
  • French: coup de semonce — action intended as a warning
  • German: Schuss vor den Bug — action intended as a warning
  • Polish: ostrzeżenie — action intended as a warning
  • Swedish: varningsskott — action intended as a warning