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

Assisted by cartoonishly indie flourishes, like words and other onomatopoeia scribed across the frame, the film’s slight, low-budget stylings allow for a greater concentration on character moments, usually by way of rapid-fire punchlines. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025

Dozens of warnings are being issued in rapid-fire succession Saturday afternoon in Mississippi and soon Alabama. —Eric Zerkel, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025

Its goofy, devil-may-care logic and rapid-fire comedy rarely translated to feature-length run times. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025

It will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. During the event, candidates will respond to four rounds of questions as well as some rapid-fire questions posed by the moderator. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 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