upshot
Americannoun
-
the final issue, the conclusion, or the result.
The upshot of the disagreement was a new bylaw.
- Synonyms:
- aftereffect, outgrowth, consequence
-
the gist, as of an argument or thesis.
noun
-
the final result; conclusion; outcome
-
archery the final shot in a match
Etymology
Origin of upshot
Explanation
The upshot of an action is the end result, whatever happens last as a consequence of the original action. The upshot of reading this sentence is that you will understand what the word upshot means. In the 16th century, the last arrow launched in an archery competition was called the upshot. Like that final arrow, the upshot is the conclusion, the outcome. Sure, you can eat ice cream really fast, but the upshot is that you’ll have a brain freeze. The upshot of eating ice cream slowly is that it will melt. Decisions, decisions.
Vocabulary lists containing upshot
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
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Grendel
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The upshot is hotter and drier conditions in some places, cooler and wetter in others.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
The upshot: Even a stratospheric bid would keep Musk in firm control of the combined company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The upshot was that instead of a more community-minded gathering of citizens casting ballots for friends and neighbors, delegates were simply voted into the state convention based on whom they would support for the Senate.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
The upshot: The redo to the Fed’s favorite price gauge, the so-called core PCE index, is likely to show inflation rising a little more slowly this year than previously reported.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Chico moved in, crouching, giving it a little upshot.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
