rifle

1 of 4

verb (1)

ri·​fle ˈrī-fəl 

rifled; rifling ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to search through something quickly and carelessly especially with the intent to steal

rifled the papers on her desk looking for the document

Someone broke into and rifled the safe.

2

: to steal and carry away

intransitive verb

: to engage in ransacking and stealing

rifled through his wallet and stole his money

rifler

ˈrī-f(ə-)lər 

noun

rifle

2 of 4

verb (2)

rifled; rifling ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to cut spiral grooves into the bore of

rifled arms

rifled pipe

rifle

3 of 4

noun

1

a

: a shoulder weapon with a rifled bore

b

: a rifled artillery piece

2

rifles plural : soldiers armed with rifles

rifle

4 of 4

verb (3)

rifled; rifling ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to hit or throw (a ball) with great force or speed

Synonyms of rifle

Verb (1)

• search
• comb
• rake

Examples of rifle in a Sentence

Verb (1)

rifled the desk drawer in search of the insurance policy

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Forest respond two minutes later after the hosts fail to deal with Dan Ndoye’s cross, Ibrahim Sangare rifling home. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

The way that Jackson can throw downfield and rifle off chunk yardage on the ground is a major reason why the Ravens likely had to be very careful with his recovery from the hamstring injury. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

The tip to the Sandy Hook tip line on February 11 stated Shockley had access to an AR-15 rifle, had just ordered a bulletproof vest and admired Nikolas Cruz, the gunman who murdered 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, officials said. —Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 23 Nov. 2025

He was shot in the head with what investigators said was most likely used a SIG Sauer rifle. —Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French rifler to scrape off, plunder, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German riffilōn to saw, obsolete Dutch rijffelen to scrape

Verb (2)

perhaps from French rifler to scratch, file, from Middle French, to scrape, plunder

and Verb (3)

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1635, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (3)

1937, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rifle

• air rifle
• assault rifle
• Browning automatic rifle
• Enfield rifle
• Garand rifle
• Kentucky rifle
• rifle through
• Springfield rifle
• squirrel rifle

Rhymes for rifle

• hyphal
• stifle
• trifle

Kids Definition

rifle

1 of 4 verb

ri·​fle ˈrī-fəl 

rifled; rifling -f(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to search through fast and roughly especially in order to steal

rifled the coat pockets for loose change

2

: steal entry 1 sense 2a

rifler

-f(ə-)lər 

noun

rifle

2 of 4 verb

rifled; rifling -f(ə-)liŋ 

: to cut spiral grooves on the inside of a barrel of

rifled arms

rifle

3 of 4 noun

1

a

: a weapon with a long rifled barrel that is designed to be fired from the shoulder

b

: a rifled artillery piece

2

plural : a body of soldiers armed with rifles

rifle

4 of 4 verb

rifled; rifling -f(ə-)liŋ 

: to hit or throw a ball with great force

Etymology

Verb

Middle English riflen "to steal or carry away by force," from early French rifler "to scrape off, plunder"; of Germanic origin

Verb

perhaps from French rifler "to scratch, file," from early French, "to scrape off, plunder"