rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire ˌra-pəd-ˈfī(-ə)r How to pronounce rapid-fire (audio)
1
: firing or adapted for firing shots in rapid succession
2
: marked by rapidity, liveliness, or sharpness
a comedian with a rapid-fire delivery

Examples of rapid-fire in a Sentence

the witness stayed unruffled all through the prosecutor's rapid-fire questioning
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.
That thickness in the air, where the rhythm work wraps you like a sleeping bag, served as an unexpected stage for Altura to showcase his rapid-fire fret work. Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025 Role-playing impromptu scenarios and answering rapid-fire questions in a calm, confident manner can make real-life situations far less daunting. Chiara Alzati, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 Foreman tried to steady himself and go after Ali but stumbled into rapid-fire combinations that spun him around like a drunken ballet dancer — punches with enough impact to throw a spray of his sweat across the ring. Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025 Follow today’s live blog for updates ➤ HEARING HIGHLIGHT: Trump’s EPA nominee acknowledges climate change: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) asked Lee Zeldin rapid-fire questions about climate change. Cate Martel, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for rapid-fire 

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rapid-fire was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near rapid-fire

Cite this Entry

“Rapid-fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapid-fire. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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