back·fire
ˈbak-ˌfī(-ə)r 
backfired; backfiring; backfires
1
: to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
their plans backfired
2
: to make or undergo a backfire
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
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
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
The United States being too deeply involved could backfire on their relationships with just about everyone.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Anthony Chiaravallo, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
When this obviously backfires, the perpetually clumsy studio boss takes a tumble and breaks his pinky … which places him squarely in the care of the doctors that swoop in on an ambulance.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
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Verb
That nearly backfired after Butler and Kuminga came out hot.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
The United States being too deeply involved could backfire on their relationships with just about everyone.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Noun
Overreliance on automation backfires in less public ways, too.
—Anthony Chiaravallo, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
When this obviously backfires, the perpetually clumsy studio boss takes a tumble and breaks his pinky … which places him squarely in the care of the doctors that swoop in on an ambulance.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backfire. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 verb1
: to make a backfire
2
: to have a result opposite to what was planned
their plans backfired
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