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 Roughly half of those wounded by gunfire were under the age of 16. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 Those trapped inside captured the grim scene on their cell phones: assailants fanning out with weapons drawn, bursts of automatic gunfire, bodies slumped on the floor. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024 Residents in several neighborhoods reported waking up at 5 a.m. to bursts of automatic gunfire as gang members attempted to overtake a base of the specialized border police unit in Fort National, across from the National Palace. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024 The two victims were struck in an exchange of gunfire between two pedestrians and a vehicle driving by in the area of Evergreen Road and University Drive, according to police. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 The crack of gunfire goes off and Ramy falls to the ground, a second before the firework bursts into a red shower of flame above the boys — roughly 50 yards from the watchtower. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Aung's charges stem from an exchange of gunfire with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers on Aug. 27, 2021. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Mar. 2024 Troopers arrived on scene and found a vehicle struck by gunfire, with the driver not injured. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 18 Mar. 2024 An exchange of gunfire with Hot Springs police officers Monday night left an unidentified suspect dead and one officer injured during a traffic stop at Albert Pike Car Wash, 2000 Albert Pike Road, just east of Atwoods, according to Hot Springs police. The Sentinel-Record, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gunfire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunfire was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near gunfire

Cite this Entry

“Gunfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunfire. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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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