gunfire

noun

gun·​fire ˈgən-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce gunfire (audio)
: the firing of guns

Examples of gunfire in a Sentence

We heard gunfire in the distance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No one was struck by the gunfire. City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026 In other footage, filmed farther down the driveway, automatic gunfire can be heard, while a third video taken at the same time shows thick black smoke emanating from the site. Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026 After searching for Bird for hours, authorities caught up with him in a nearby county and engaged in gunfire early Tuesday. Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026 According to court documents, dispatchers reported hearing gunfire in the background of the call. Logan Smith, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunfire

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunfire was in 1727

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Cite this Entry

“Gunfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunfire. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

gunfire

noun
gun·​fire -ˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce gunfire (audio)
: the firing of guns

More from Merriam-Webster on gunfire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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