: the shooting of small arms with intent to scare or kill

Examples of gunplay in a Sentence

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.
The melee fighting is just as good as the clever gunplay. Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 17 June 2026 Drake raps about guns with the glee of getting away with gunplay while his rhyme partner veers on a dime from trauma to gallows humor. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025 The action feels so different from the gunplay of the first game, and yet eerily familiar. George Yang, Space.com, 22 June 2026 The gunplay is still tight and responsive, and the level design remains easy enough to glean and strategize around. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gunplay

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gunplay was in 1881

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Cite this Entry

“Gunplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunplay. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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