backfire

1 of 2

verb

back·​fire ˈbak-ˌfī(-ə)r 

backfired; backfiring; backfires

intransitive verb

1

: to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect

their plans backfired

2

: to make or undergo a backfire

backfire

2 of 2

noun

1

: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel mixture in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine

2

: a fire started to check an advancing fire by clearing an area

Synonyms

Verb

• boomerang

Examples of backfire in a Sentence

Verb

my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up thinking that everyone had forgotten her birthday

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Instead, it’s turned into a tragedy of errors: Injuries piling up like unpaid bills A trade that backfired A suspension that gutted the bench A coach who still can’t find the right lineup Antetokounmpo will drag this squad into the playoffs—his sheer force of will is the stuff of legend. —Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

However, economists have warned that could backfire, sparking further inflation and labor shortages. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025

Noun

Without a trusted guide, AI efforts stall, hallucinate, or backfire. —Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Stopping cancer research because cancer prevention training doesn’t always work and sometimes backfires won’t stop cancer. —H. Colleen Sinclair, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for backfire

• admire
• afire
• aspire
• esquire
• expire
• haywire
• hellfire
• inquire
• inspire
• newswire
• perspire
• rehire

Kids Definition

backfire

1 of 2 noun

back·​fire -ˌfī(ə)r 

1

: a fire that is set to check the spread of a forest fire or a grass fire by burning off a strip of land ahead of it

2

: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine

backfire

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a backfire

2

: to have a result opposite to what was planned

their plans backfired