gunfire

noun

gun·​fire ˈgən-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce gunfire (audio)
: the firing of guns

Examples of gunfire in a Sentence

We heard gunfire in the distance.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There was an altercation between two groups of people that led to an exchange of gunfire. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2025 Police said the driver displayed a weapon, and two Aurora police officers discharged their guns at the driver, who was struck by gunfire, a release from the police department said on Wednesday. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 White, meanwhile, was arrested a month after the highway gunfire and charged with murder, KDFW reported. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025 Haiti’s capital has been marred by gunfire and gang activity for weeks as various entities have shuttered their doors, some temporarily, Haiti correspondent Jacqueline Charles reported. Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gunfire

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunfire was in 1801

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunfire. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

gunfire

noun
gun·​fire -ˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce gunfire (audio)
: the firing of guns

More from Merriam-Webster on gunfire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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