backfire

1 of 2

verb

back·​fire ˈbak-ˌfī(-ə)r 

backfired; backfiring; backfires

intransitive verb

1

: to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect

their plans backfired

2

: to make or undergo a backfire

backfire

2 of 2

noun

1

: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel mixture in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine

2

: a fire started to check an advancing fire by clearing an area

Synonyms

Verb

• boomerang

Examples of backfire in a Sentence

Verb

my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up thinking that everyone had forgotten her birthday

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But trying to replace all human work with AI will most likely backfire for us in the future. —Zain Jaffer, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2024

Battleground House Democrats who are concerned a ticket with Biden at the top will backfire on down-ballot races are reportedly confiding in former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), according to Politico. —Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 July 2024

Noun

Schoen seemed uneasy getting that situation to the finish line with Mara, and the stakes are clearly high for Schoen if Barkley’s signing with the Eagles backfires in a big way. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 17 July 2024

Advertisement Federal agencies and many state and municipal departments have also begun to use drones to scout ahead of a fire or ignite backfires, lessening the burden on firefighters who would otherwise have to hike in on foot. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

backfire

1 of 2 noun

back·​fire -ˌfī(ə)r 

1

: a fire that is set to check the spread of a forest fire or a grass fire by burning off a strip of land ahead of it

2

: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine

backfire

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a backfire

2

: to have a result opposite to what was planned

their plans backfired