firefight

[ fahyuhr-fahyt ]

/ ˈfaɪərˌfaɪt /

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noun

an exchange of gunfire between two opposing forces, especially a skirmish between military forces.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of firefight

First recorded in 1895–1900; fire + fight

Words nearby firefight

fire-eater, fire engine, fire-engine red, fire escape, fire extinguisher, firefight, firefighter, firefighting, fireflood, firefly, fire gilding

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use firefight in a sentence

I mean, the helicopters and the firefights—everything was just so over the top.
The Story Behind ‘The Perfect Storm’|jversteegh|October 27, 2021|Outside Online
In short, on the immediate level of what helps give an edge in a firefight, a gun firing from the back of a waist-height robot gives a squad commander a host of options.
Ghost Robotics now makes a lethal robot dog|Kelsey D. Atherton|October 13, 2021|Popular-Science
During the day-long firefight, Pretel is said to have repeatedly assured the men that reinforcements were coming to rescue them.
Leaked Audio Confession Blows Lid Off Mystery of Haiti’s Murdered President|Jeremy Kryt|September 2, 2021|The Daily Beast
While she ultimately proves to be a bad firefight leader, she’s expresses her personality and emotions more clearly here than in the first game.
Every ‘Mass Effect’ squadmate, ranked from a storytelling perspective|Jhaan Elker|June 4, 2021|Washington Post

There was quite a firefight over trying to find out who this was.
Q&A with ‘Anonymous’: Miles Taylor on his secret, why he didn’t resign and more|Philip Rucker, Carol D. Leonnig|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
During the intense firefight that followed, four Kurdish fighters died, including three of Ahmed's cousins.
The Brothers Who Ambushed ISIS|Mohammed A. Salih|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What often is forgotten—and what Beck could probably stand to remember—is that the massacre was, technically, a firefight.
Glenn Beck Is Now Selling Hipster Clothes. Really.|Ana Marie Cox|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Less than 30 minutes after the firefight started, commandos entered the compound and found the mortally wounded hostages.
Did U.S. Policy Get Luke Somers Killed?|Shane Harris|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is something about a firefight at night, something about the mechanical elegance of an M-60 machine gun.
War Is Hell and Such Good Fun|Don Gomez|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The day after the assault, ISAF announced that forces had stumbled upon the dead women after a firefight with insurgents.
Obama's Pentagon Covered Up War Crimes in Afghanistan, Says Amnesty International|Nico Hines, Sami Yousafzai|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for firefight

firefight

/ (ˈfaɪəˌfaɪt) /

noun

a brief small-scale engagement between opposing military ground forces using short-range light weapons

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012