Bolt

/boʊlt/ adv, name, noun, verb

adv, name, noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
  • Grammar: bolt is listed as adv, name, noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: dash, abscond, abscond, absconded.
  • Useful contrasts: calm weather, confront, crawl.
  • Usage evidence: The news hit me like a bolt from the blue.

How to use "bolt"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bolt" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bolt" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bolt" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bolt" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "bolt" is acting as adv, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "dash" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "bolt", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
  2. 2
    A sieve, especially a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.

    "The combination, in a flour bolt, of a reel head having a throat near its outer edge for the passage of the tailings and a series of revolving adjustable beaters, substantially as set forth."

  3. 3
    a sudden abandonment (as from a political party) wordnet
  4. 4
    A sliding pin or bar in a lock or latch mechanism.

    "There was the noise of a bolt shot back, and the door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes."

  5. 5
    the act of moving with great haste wordnet
Show 18 more definitions
  1. 6
    A bar of wood or metal dropped in horizontal hooks on a door and adjoining wall or between the two sides of a double door, to prevent the door(s) from being forced open.
  2. 7
    a screw that screws into a nut to form a fastener wordnet
  3. 8
    A sliding mechanism to chamber and unchamber a cartridge in a firearm.
  4. 9
    the part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key wordnet
  5. 10
    A small personal-armour-piercing missile for short-range use, or (in common usage though deprecated by experts) a short arrow, intended to be shot from a crossbow or a catapult.
  6. 11
    a sliding bar in a breech-loading firearm that ejects an empty cartridge and replaces it and closes the breech wordnet
  7. 12
    A lightning spark, i.e., a lightning bolt.

    "He had seen lightning bolts yesterday night."

  8. 13
    a roll of cloth or wallpaper of a definite length wordnet
  9. 14
    A sudden event, action or emotion.

    "The problem's solution struck him like a bolt from the blue."

  10. 15
    a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder wordnet
  11. 16
    A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth.

    "Mr. Cole, Basket-maker...has lost near 300 boults of rods"

  12. 17
    A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth.; The standard linear measurement of canvas for use at sea: 39 yards.
  13. 18
    A sudden spring or start; a sudden leap aside.

    "The horse made a bolt."

  14. 19
    A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.

    "This gentleman was so hopelessly involved that he contemplated a bolt to America — or anywhere."

  15. 20
    A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party. US
  16. 21
    An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.

    "He shall to prison, and there die in boults."

  17. 22
    A burst of speed or efficiency.

    "In the event they lacked a proper midfield bolt, with Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira huffing around in pursuit of the whizzing green machine. The centre-backs looked flustered, left to deal with three on two as Mexico broke. Löw’s 4-2-3-1 seemed antiquated and creaky, with the old World Cup shark Thomas Müller flat-footed in a wide position."

  18. 23
    A stalk or scape (of garlic, onion, etc).

    "All kinds of vegetables may be used as a topping, but the best are strongly flavoured ones without too much moisture, such as celery, garlic bolts, chives, scallions, or various beans (long beans, green beans etc.) ..."

Verb
  1. 1
    To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt. transitive

    "Bolt the vice to the bench."

  2. 2
    To sift, especially through a cloth.
  3. 3
    make or roll into bolts wordnet
  4. 4
    To affix in a crude or unnatural manner. figuratively, transitive

    "Most languages are *not* based on C++. C++ is a complicated mess. It's C with object oriented features bolted on as an afterthought and no-one in their right mind would want to base another language on it."

  5. 5
    To sift the bran and germ from wheat flour.

    "Graham flour is unbolted flour; in contrast, some other flours have been bolted."

Show 18 more definitions
  1. 6
    eat hastily without proper chewing wordnet
  2. 7
    To secure a door by locking or barring it. transitive

    "Bolt the door."

  3. 8
    To separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.

    "ill schooled in bolted language"

  4. 9
    swallow hastily wordnet
  5. 10
    To flee, to depart, to accelerate away suddenly. intransitive

    "Seeing the snake, the horse bolted."

  6. 11
    To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.

    "[…]the old habits of mooting or bolting caſes (i.e. of public disputations), might make the ſtudent more ſubtle and acute"

  7. 12
    secure or lock with a bolt wordnet
  8. 13
    To escape. intransitive
  9. 14
    move or jump suddenly wordnet
  10. 15
    To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge (an animal being hunted). transitive

    "to bolt a rabbit"

  11. 16
    leave suddenly and as if in a hurry wordnet
  12. 17
    To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.

    "His cloudleſs thunder bolted on thir heads."

  13. 18
    run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along wordnet
  14. 19
    To produce flower stalks and flowers or seeds quickly or prematurely; to form a bolt (stalk or scape); to go to seed. intransitive

    "Lettuce and spinach will bolt as the weather warms up."

  15. 20
    To swallow food without chewing it. transitive

    "Though amid all the smoking horror and diabolism of a sea-fight, sharks will be seen longingly gazing up to the ship’s decks, like hungry dogs round a table where red meat is being carved, ready to bolt down every killed man that is tossed to them;"

  16. 21
    To drink one's drink very quickly; to down a drink. transitive

    "Come on, everyone, bolt your drinks; I want to go to the next pub!"

  17. 22
    To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party. US

    "John Silber charged that people who bolted the Democratic Party in this election are "Kamakaze ^([sic]) liberals", beneath contempt and clearly too stupid to deserve to vote."

  18. 23
    To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.

    "I hate when vice can bolt her arguments."

Adverb
  1. 1
    Suddenly; straight; unbendingly. not-comparable

    "The soldiers stood bolt upright for inspection."

Adverb
  1. 1
    in a rigid manner wordnet
  2. 2
    directly wordnet
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname transferred from the nickname. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    A census-designated place in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, named after an early postmaster. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    An unincorporated community in the town of Franklin, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. countable, uncountable

Antonyms

calm weatherconfrontcrawlcreep

Example

"The news hit me like a bolt from the blue."

Common questions

What does "bolt" mean?

A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.

What is a synonym for "bolt"?

Common synonyms include: dash, abscond, abscond, absconded, absconding, absconds.

How do you use "bolt" in a sentence?

The news hit me like a bolt from the blue.

How do you pronounce "bolt"?

Pronounced /boʊlt/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English bolt, from Old English bolt, from Proto-West Germanic *bolt, from Proto-Germanic *bultaz, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeld- (“to knock, strike”). Compare Lithuanian beldu (“I knock”), baldas (“pole for striking”). Akin to Dutch and West Frisian bout, German Bolz or Bolzen, Danish bolt, Swedish bult, Icelandic bolti.

Etymology 2

From Middle English bulten, from Anglo-Norman buleter, Old French bulter (modern French bluter), from a Germanic source originally meaning "bag, pouch" cognate with Middle High German biuteln (“to sift”), from Proto-Germanic *buzdô (“beetle, grub, swelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰūs- (“to move quickly”). Cognate with Dutch buidel.

Etymology 3

* As an English surname, from the noun bolt, for a maker of bolts, or a nickname for a short and heavy person. * Also as an English surname, variant of Bold. * As a Dutch, north/Low German and Danish surname, from the old Germanic name Baldo, derived from the adjective bold and related to the above. Compare Boldt.

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