rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire ˌra-pəd-ˈfī(-ə)r 

1

: firing or adapted for firing shots in rapid succession

2

: marked by rapidity, liveliness, or sharpness

a comedian with a rapid-fire delivery

Synonyms

• blistering
• breakneck
• breathless
• brisk
• dizzy
• fast
• fleet
• fleet-footed
• flying
• galloping
• hasty
• hot
• lightning
• nippy
• quick
• rapid
• rattling
• snappy
• speedy
• splitting
• swift
• whirlwind
• zippy

Examples of rapid-fire in a Sentence

the witness stayed unruffled all through the prosecutor's rapid-fire questioning

Recent Examples on the Web

The Seahawks’ pursuit of Darnold snuck up on many NFL observers and proceeded in rapid-fire fashion. —Michael Silver, New York Times, 19 June 2025

Read: The Tesla revolt To longtime Tesla chroniclers such as myself, the chaotic, rapid-fire cuts that defined Musk’s tenure at DOGE felt familiar from the very beginning. —Patrick George, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025

Burst mode, which takes a series of rapid-fire shots, is also essential. —Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2025

The clip serves as a rapid-fire tour of her qualifications, passion for motorsport, and creative acumen. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rapid-fire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer

Kids Definition

rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire

ˌrap-əd-ˈfī(ə)r

1

: able to fire shots rapidly

a rapid-fire weapon

2

: marked by a rapid rate or pace

spoke rapid-fire Spanish