rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire ˌra-pəd-ˈfī(-ə)r 

1

: firing or adapted for firing shots in rapid succession

2

: marked by rapidity, liveliness, or sharpness

a comedian with a rapid-fire delivery

Synonyms

• rapid
• brisk
• quick
• fast
• galloping

Examples of rapid-fire in a Sentence

the witness stayed unruffled all through the prosecutor's rapid-fire questioning

Recent Examples on the Web

Wröbel emphasized how these rapid-fire trends have led brands to chase after a wider variety of fits. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025

Caglianone, who sported a full beard, listened intently as questions came his way rapid-fire. —Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025

With that already as a given for many of us, Neville’s movie serves as a splendid jukebox, offering rapid-fire clips that bowl you over anew with just how rapidly McCartney’s own synapses were firing on ingenious hit after hit. —Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025

Especially love the rapid-fire rhyming shout-outs to some of the fair's finer delicacies. —Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rapid-fire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer

Kids Definition

rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire

ˌrap-əd-ˈfī(ə)r

1

: able to fire shots rapidly

a rapid-fire weapon

2

: marked by a rapid rate or pace

spoke rapid-fire Spanish