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 of rapid-fire

• 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

Hauser’s rapid-fire threes to open the fourth, sandwiched around Gonzalez’s second steal of the night, put the Celtics ahead by seven. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025

Trump spoke at a rapid-fire clip with a tone that bordered at times on anger. —Josh Boak, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025

This was originally published in IndieWire’s In Development newsletter, dedicated to tracking the rapid-fire changes impacting indie film careers. —Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 16 Dec. 2025

Australia has a history of reacting quickly to gun violence with legislation, and many have credited a ban on rapid-fire long guns brought in following a 1996 mass-shooting with sharply reducing death in the years since. —CBS News, 15 Dec. 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