rifle

1 of 4

verb (1)

ri·​fle ˈrī-fəl 

rifled; rifling ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to ransack especially with the intent to steal

2

: to steal and carry away

intransitive verb

: to engage in ransacking and stealing

rifler

ˈrī-f(ə-)lər 

noun

rifle

2 of 4

verb (2)

rifled; rifling ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to cut spiral grooves into the bore of

rifled arms

rifled pipe

rifle

3 of 4

noun

1

a

: a shoulder weapon with a rifled bore

b

: a rifled artillery piece

2

rifles plural : soldiers armed with rifles

rifle

4 of 4

verb (3)

rifled; rifling ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to hit or throw (a ball) with great force or speed

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• search
• comb
• rake

Examples of rifle in a Sentence

Verb (1)

rifled the desk drawer in search of the insurance policy

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Best All-Time NFL Wide Receivers Starting slow in the NFL matters more than ending the season with a win streak, unless that win streak is rifling off 8-10 wins. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025

The pair combined again shortly after the hour-mark, with City’s new signings teeing up Haaland by cutting the ball back across the box, before the Norwegian rifled the ball past Sa. —Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025

Noun

At the scene of the apparent assassination attempt, officials found the rifle, a black backpack and a bag containing ceramic tile, and a GoPro camera. —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025

Apart from one shocking death (when Tranter switches from neutralizing bombs up close to eliminating threats with his long-range rifle), the action is entertaining enough in the moment, but not especially memorable. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French rifler to scrape off, plunder, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German riffilōn to saw, obsolete Dutch rijffelen to scrape

Verb (2)

perhaps from French rifler to scratch, file, from Middle French, to scrape, plunder

and Verb (3)

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1635, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (3)

1937, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rifle

• air rifle
• assault rifle
• Browning automatic rifle
• Enfield rifle
• Garand rifle
• Kentucky rifle
• rifle through
• Springfield rifle
• squirrel rifle

Rhymes for rifle

• hyphal
• stifle
• trifle

Kids Definition

rifle

1 of 4 verb

ri·​fle ˈrī-fəl 

rifled; rifling -f(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to search through fast and roughly especially in order to steal

rifled the coat pockets for loose change

2

: steal entry 1 sense 2a

rifler

-f(ə-)lər 

noun

rifle

2 of 4 verb

rifled; rifling -f(ə-)liŋ 

: to cut spiral grooves on the inside of a barrel of

rifled arms

rifle

3 of 4 noun

1

a

: a weapon with a long rifled barrel that is designed to be fired from the shoulder

b

: a rifled artillery piece

2

plural : a body of soldiers armed with rifles

rifle

4 of 4 verb

rifled; rifling -f(ə-)liŋ 

: to hit or throw a ball with great force

Etymology

Verb

Middle English riflen "to steal or carry away by force," from early French rifler "to scrape off, plunder"; of Germanic origin

Verb

perhaps from French rifler "to scratch, file," from early French, "to scrape off, plunder"