rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire ˌra-pəd-ˈfī(-ə)r 

1

: firing or adapted for firing shots in rapid succession

2

: marked by rapidity, liveliness, or sharpness

a comedian with a rapid-fire delivery

Synonyms

• rapid
• brisk
• quick
• fast
• galloping

Examples of rapid-fire in a Sentence

the witness stayed unruffled all through the prosecutor's rapid-fire questioning

Recent Examples on the Web

An aftermarket trigger assembly can replace the factory trigger with one designed for a specific kind of shooting, whether rapid-fire, close combat, or long-range accuracy. —Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 July 2025

The Sixth Sense landed in theaters like an intervention amid Hollywood’s wave of rapid-fire editing and high-concept fatigue. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025

The rapid-fire changes risk opening Tesla up to more blowback from car owners who were told back in 2016 that all the vehicles the company was making from then on had the hardware necessary to eventually drive autonomously. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 28 July 2025

Today, the formats are as varied as the prizes: From rapid-fire trivia to elimination-style dating challenges, there's something for every armchair contestant. —Lindsay Soll, EW.com, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rapid-fire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer

Kids Definition

rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire

ˌrap-əd-ˈfī(ə)r

1

: able to fire shots rapidly

a rapid-fire weapon

2

: marked by a rapid rate or pace

spoke rapid-fire Spanish