Definition of backfire
1 : a fire started to check an advancing fire by clearing an area
2 : a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel mixture in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
From the M-W Editors
1801
First Known Use of backfire
1801
backfire
Definition of backfire
intransitive verb
1 : to make or undergo a backfire
2 : to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect their plans backfired
Examples of backfire in a Sentence
my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up sobbing that everyone had forgotten her birthday
1852
First Known Use of backfire
1852
BACKFIRE Defined for English Language Learners
backfire
Definition of backfire for English Language Learners
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of an engine or vehicle : to make a loud sound when fuel is not burned properly
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: to have the opposite result of what was desired or expected
BACKFIRE Defined for Kids
Definition of backfire for Students
backfired
;backfiring
1 : to have a result opposite to what was planned The joke backfired.
2 : to make a loud engine noise caused by fuel igniting at the wrong time
Definition of backfire for Students
1 : a loud engine noise caused by fuel igniting at the wrong time
2 : a fire that is set to stop the spread of a forest fire or a grass fire by burning off a strip of land ahead of it
Learn More about backfire
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for backfire Spanish Central: Translation of backfire Nglish: Translation of backfire for Spanish speakers
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