as in shooting
to strike with a missile from a gun
traded stories of the Wild West, when outlaws gunned men down in broad daylight and in cold blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gunning
At least a third of the league is gunning for favorable lottery position in a draft that features Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer and a series of talented guards as consolation prizes.
—
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
But Lardis was gunning for a bigger prize.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Safe to say that the Jazz aren’t exactly gunning for a playoff spot either.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Running and gunning The Kings came out running, gunning and rebounding while the Cavaliers struggled to find a rhythm with Harden joining the starting lineup.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, nobody was gunning to send Myki home other than Vita, who is protecting her girl, Discord.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
He is accused of gunning the CEO down outside a Midtown hotel, setting off a manhunt spanning several states.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Is Leonardo DiCaprio gunning for our hearts and memes?
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews and other Team USA stars will be gunning for some revenge along with a gold medal.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
But Lardis was gunning for a bigger prize.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Safe to say that the Jazz aren’t exactly gunning for a playoff spot either.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Running and gunning The Kings came out running, gunning and rebounding while the Cavaliers struggled to find a rhythm with Harden joining the starting lineup.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, nobody was gunning to send Myki home other than Vita, who is protecting her girl, Discord.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
He is accused of gunning the CEO down outside a Midtown hotel, setting off a manhunt spanning several states.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Is Leonardo DiCaprio gunning for our hearts and memes?
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews and other Team USA stars will be gunning for some revenge along with a gold medal.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunning
Verb
-
Both shooting 30% from the field.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The 7-foot forward had 13 points and five blocks in a mere 14 minutes, shooting 3 of 3 behind the arc and 4 of 4 at the line.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sunny Isles Beach sits on a sandy barrier island, and experts warn that drilling a foundation for a tall building could disturb the foundations of surrounding buildings.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Both lawsuits are seeking to stop drilling plans near the Teshekpuk Lake, which was previously protected under federal regulation.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The video of the incident went viral online, popping up across different platforms and drawing varying reactions from different political spheres, garnering praise and criticism alike.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Foodies can savor global flavors at spots like Ghee and the ultra-refined Ogawa, opt for a dose of Nikkei cuisine popping up around the city, or dig into the growing farm dinner scene at spots like Ford’s Farm.—
Carrie Honaker,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunning. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
