fire

fire

verb

Definition of FIRE

1

to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <police officers firing rubber bullets>

Synonyms blast, discharge, fire, loose, squeeze off

Related Words launch, project; blaze (at), snipe (at); cast, catapult, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, lob, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss

2

to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force <soldiers fired at the enemy in panic-stricken disorder>

Synonyms blast, discharge, fire

Related Words blaze, pepper; plink, potshot, snipe

3

to give life, vigor, or spirit to <a school outing to the natural history museum fired his imagination, and he grew up to become an eminent paleontologist>

Synonyms amp (up), brace, energize, enliven, fillip, fire, ginger (up), invigorate, jazz (up), juice up, jump-start, liven (up), pep (up), quicken, spike, stimulate, vitalize, vivify, zip (up)

Related Words arouse, awake, awaken, raise, rouse, stir, wake (up); activate, actuate, drive, impel, motivate, motive, move, propel; charge, electrify, galvanize; enkindle, excite, ferment, foment, incite, inflame (also enflame), instigate, kindle, provoke, set off, spark, trigger, turn on, whip (up); abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, infuse, inspire, lift, rally, steel, strengthen; reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, recreate, reenergize, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, restimulate, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revive

Near Antonyms burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fag, fatigue, harass, kayo, knock out, sap, tucker (out), undermine, wash out, weaken, wear, wear out, weary; check, curb, inhibit, jade, quell, quench, repress, restrain, slow, still, stunt, suppress; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Antonyms damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill

4

to let go from office, service, or employment <fired the secretary for incompetence>

Synonyms ax (or axe), bounce, can, cashier, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off

Related Words downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim; boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat; separate

Near Antonyms keep; reemploy, rehire; contract, subcontract; recruit

Antonyms employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on

5

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <fired a pass to the running back>

Synonyms cast, catapult, chuck, dash, fire, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, lob, loft, peg, pelt, pitch, sling, toss

Related Words bowl, dart, flip, gun, hook, pass, roll, shoot; buck, eject, impel, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, thrust

6

to set (something) on fire <lit some kindling before attempting to fire the logs>

Synonyms enkindle, fire, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, light, torch

Related Words immolate; deflagrate; char, frizzle, scorch; bake, broil, cook; ash, cremate, incinerate, kiln; set off; brighten, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, lighten, radiate; scald, scathe, sear; reignite, rekindle, relight; bank, stoke

Near Antonyms choke, smother, suffocate; stamp (out); blacken, darken, dim, dull, obscure

Antonyms douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench, snuff (out)