How to Use return fire in a Sentence

return fire

noun
  • The trooper did not return fire.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Sackett was able to return fire but did not hit any of the suspects.
    — Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 2025-02-17
  • The deputy tried to take cover and retrieve his rifle to return fire.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Officers did not return fire and chased the car, police said.
    — Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 2024-08-09
  • The officers were not injured and did not return fire.
    — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The officers were not injured and did not return fire.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Deputies did not return fire, and no injuries were reported.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Davis said the shooter fired at officers, prompting them to return fire.
    — Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Routh, who did not return fire, dashed to a black Nissan Xterra across the street.
    — Hannah Phillips, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • In the other two, an officer was wounded and unable to return fire.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2023-08-11
  • Officers did not return fire during the encounter with the suspect.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
  • Police said the suspects fired into the home, prompting the homeowners to return fire, killing both men.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The officer did not return fire, police said, because the streets were packed with pedestrians.
    — Rob Frehse, CNN, 2024-02-10
  • That's when the team were met with gunfire from inside, prompting one officer to return fire, Zak said.
    — Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Officers did not return fire, and first responders were not harmed in the incident, police said.
    — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025
  • Sirens wail and gunshots pop in rapid succession in the background of the five-minute livestream as the two officers try to shield themselves behind the car and return fire.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 2024-05-03
  • Seoul's military said the soldiers returned north of the military demarcation line and did not return fire.
    — Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The man struck Stallworth and started fighting with him, gaining control of the gun, tried to return fire and fled the scene, the affidavit states.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Seoul's military said the soldiers returned north of the military demarcation line and did not return fire.
    — Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Squinting through the flatulent fog, Absalom manages to return fire, planting a red-hot iron on Nicholas’s bum.
    — Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
  • The confrontation escalated when the suspects allegedly shot through the door first, prompting the homeowner to return fire.
    — Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Rodrigues then shot at police from inside the home, prompting them to return fire and kill him, police told The News & Observer.
    — Bailey Richards, People.com, 2025-01-25
  • When the ships were about half a mile apart, the Kearsarge’s captain, John Winslow, ordered Pease and the other gunners in his crew to return fire.
    — James Hagengruber, Smithsonian Magazine, 2023-06-21
  • The unidentified deputy sheriff and detective positioned themselves to return fire, and Ruth struck the deputy sheriff and his vehicle, Barker said.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Authorities said Paez Terán then shot at the troopers from inside the tent, wounding one of them and prompting the troopers to return fire, killing the activist who went by the name of Tortuguita.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The man, later identified as 63-year-old Jed Parkington, opened fire at officers several times during the day, damaging police cars and prompting officers to return fire.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
  • Two more shots came as the SUV drove through the 7100 block of West National Avenue, prompting officers to return fire while pursuing westbound.
    — Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Police are interviewing more than 150 witnesses after gunfire erupted in Austin's entertainment district, sending crowds running and prompting officers to return fire.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Upon receiving target coordinates, the RCH 155 can aim and fire up to nine rounds in rapid succession before speeding away in around 30 seconds, before enemy artillery has time to return fire.
    — David Szondy may 23, New Atlas, 23 May 2026
  • If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.
    — Andreas Kluth, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'return fire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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