gunfire

[ guhn-fahyuhr ]

noun

1. the firing fire of a gun gin gun or guns. gun.
2. Military. the tactical use of firearms, especially artillery, as distinguished from other weapons, as bayonets, torpedoes, or grenades.

gunfire

/ ˈɡʌnˌfaɪə /

noun

1. the firing of one or more guns, esp when done repeatedly
2. the use of firearms, as contrasted with other military tactics

Word History and Origins

Origin of gunfire¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; gun ¹ + fire

Example Sentences

Another store employee chased him, and the deputy and the suspect again exchanged gunfire, officials said.

From Washington Post

David Blackburn’s brother told police that he was sleeping before hearing gunfire and that he saw his brother “standing by his mother holding a handgun,” detectives wrote.

From Washington Post

Police said that the Corolla driver, who was struck by gunfire, stopped at the 12th Street Metro stop and that Metro Transit Police helped him.

From Washington Post

That’s when he heard the gunfire and ran back to where the POWs were.

From Ozy

When the officers arrived, Velez said, “they immediately came under gunfire.”

From Washington Post

One witness said the gunfire began after a traffic collision, which drew the attention of a nearby police officer.

From The Daily Beast

Gunfire was exchanged and Sam, who was unarmed, was wounded.

From The Daily Beast

The low crunch of packed dirt against rubber tire was overwhelmed by the ragged explosions of automatic gunfire.

From The Daily Beast

Behind a chorus of shrill insects, the pops of gunfire can sometimes be heard in the distance.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, returning from la-la land to our regularly scheduled program, 86 people died in the United States today from gunfire.

From The Daily Beast

When it first received gunfire from a Federal ship, the shots surprisingly glanced off its sides.

From Project Gutenberg

One moment he was limned in the glow of the flashlight, then gunfire made a blasting hell of that fourth floor.

From Project Gutenberg

His mad rabbit hunt and the deafening roar of his gunfire had temporarily unhinged his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

The air was filled with the cracking of gunfire and the deep, savage snarling of the prowlers.

From Project Gutenberg

Little smoke-puffs all along the battle-front kept pace with the popping of gunfire.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• artillery
• barrage
• blast
• bombardment
• burst
• detonation
• firing
• shooting
• thunder
• volley