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.
Gunfire erupts following victory celebration Prosecutors have alleged that an argument between two groups escalated into gunfire in the crowded celebration. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 For the next several days, the mountains of West Virginia echoed with gunfire as Blair Mountain became a battlefield. — Katie Angell Britannica Editors Aug. 27, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 Huntersville police said afterward investigators believed the gunfire was targeted rather than random. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026 Just minutes into the mass, the prayer and song were violently interrupted by gunfire. — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunfire

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunfire was in 1727

Rhymes for gunfire

See All Rhymes for gunfire

Browse Nearby Words

gunfighter
gunfire
gunflint
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunfire. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gunfire

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