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.
Wednesday after callers reported gunfire near East 81st Street and Brooklyn Avenue in the Marlborough Heights/Marlborough Pride neighborhood, Officer Alayna Gonzalez of the Kansas City Police Department said in an email. — Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026 The family of a 28-year-old woman killed by police gunfire in Wynwood is taking new legal action following the release of bodycam video and a decision by prosecutors not to file criminal charges against the officers involved. — Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Researchers suspected deliberate tampering in 146 instances, including officers covering lenses, putting cameras in pockets or backpacks, or removing them during gunfire or entry into homes. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 Arguments turn into fights and those fights can turn into gunfire. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 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 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gunfire

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