backfire
verb (used without object)
(of an internal-combustion engine) to have a loud, premature explosion in the intake manifold.
backfires
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pluralof backfire.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof backfire (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
backfireverb (used without object)(of an internal-combustion engine) to have a loud, premature explosion in the intake manifold.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company has long relied on this high-yielding equity as its primary engine to bankroll Bitcoin acquisitions—a strategy that backfires when the shares lose ground.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
All of the above comes with a caveat: Unbridled choice often backfires.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Is there a chance this really backfires, then?
From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026
The programme describes it as a hero's plot for peace that backfires with drastic consequences.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025
The car behind me at the drive-thru backfires, and I rush inside.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
