gun 1 of 2

noun

ˈgən How to pronounce gun (audio)
Definition of gunnext
1
as in firearm
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder while her father preferred hunting with a crossbow, she preferred a gun

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2
as in artillery
guns plural large firearms (as cannons or rockets) the field commander called for the big guns to be deployed for the full-scale assault

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gun

2 of 2

verb

as in to shoot
to strike with a missile from a gun traded stories of the Wild West, when outlaws gunned men down in broad daylight and in cold blood

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gun
Noun
Prosecutors said Hamid then grabbed a gun from the center console of his vehicle and fired one shot through the open rear passenger window. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026 Police say responding officers found and detained a man suspected in a shooting, and recovered a gun, but the victim was not there. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Verb
Tunisia is already eliminated at the bottom of Group F, but Netherlands will be gunning to win the top spot of the group as it’s currently tied with Japan. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026 Now, top Democrats will have to decide how hard to gun for Platner, who has become a standard-bearer in the party’s anti-Israel shift at a time when the chamber is narrowly divided. — Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gun
  1. firearm
  2. artillery
  3. shoot
  4. rifle
  5. weapons
  6. drill
Noun
  • He has been charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm.
    — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • Law enforcement later searched two locations in connection with the investigation into Hidrogo including a storage facility in Fort Worth where officers found 244 kilograms of meth with a purity level of 100 percent and more firearms.
    — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
Definition of firearm
Noun
  • However, both carry much smaller munitions than conventional artillery.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Modern armored warfare has shown that even the world’s most advanced main battle tanks perform best when integrated with drones, infantry, artillery, electronic warfare, and effective command-and-control networks.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
Definition of artillery
Verb
  • The man advanced toward police, and one officer shot the man, the KBI said.
    — Nathan Pilling July 1, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Kaiseem Smith, 16, is also being sought by police in connection with the fatal shooting of Billy Schmidt, who was fatally shot near his South Philadelphia home on June 6.
    — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of shoot
Noun
  • McBride said Robinson's DNA was found on the towel and the rifle, and similar ammunition was found at his home.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • In subsequent messages included in charging documents, Robinson referenced engraving bullets and leaving his rifle wrapped in a towel.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of rifle
Noun
  • Officials have not reported discovering caches containing cash, gold or weapons and have not publicly commented on the broader allegations.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • The department will also deploy counterterrorism resources, explosive detection K-9s, bomb squad personnel and heavy weapons teams, along with plain clothes officers and a harbor unit for the waterways.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of weapons
Verb
  • The Chileans drilled holes allowing workers to insert a camera and pinpoint his location.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • On his way to 25 points, Acuff made some sharp pick-and-roll reads, drilled some midrange pull-ups and drew a few and-1s.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of drill

Phrases Containing gun

Browse Nearby Words

gum (up)
gun
gundog
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Cite this Entry

“Gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gun. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gun

Nglish: Translation of gun for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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