rifle

1 of 4

verb (1)

ri·​fle ˈrī-fəl 

rifled; rifling ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to ransack especially with the intent to steal

2

: to steal and carry away

intransitive verb

: to engage in ransacking and stealing

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

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

Noun

Plus, the robots in question here aren't miniature terminators that crawl about blasting mucus from the walls of your sinuses with laser rifles. —New Atlas, 30 June 2025

Topline Authorities reportedly identified the man suspected of killing two firefighters and injuring another in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho—after he was found dead next to the sniper rifle believed to be used to ambush firefighters responding to a wildfire. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Verb

Squaring up Federico Dimarco, Yamal drove to the byline before chopping back — nearly sending Dimarco out of the stadium — taking a touch, and rifling the ball at goal from the tightest of angles. —The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 2 June 2025

Coming off two road defeats in a row, coach Mikey Varas’ team appreciated its return to San Diego but couldn’t overcome a young Californian named Diego. RSL midfielder Diego Luna, 21, rifled a high-quality goal in the first half and netted a second-half goal off a penalty kick. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 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"