misfire
verb (used without object)
(of a rifle or gun or of a bullet or shell) to fail to fire or explode.
had misfired
-
past perfectof misfire.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
He had misfired so badly off the 18th tee that he didn’t even know where his ball had gone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
The Cavs trailed 53-49 at the half and were fortunate the deficit wasn’t larger, considering they had misfired on 13 of 14 3-point attempts.
From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024
Pixar, once unable to do no wrong in the eyes of film critics and ticket buyers, had misfired so immensely at the box office that its future as a cultural force was in doubt.
From New York Times ● Oct. 3, 2023
The gun that was used had misfired the previous weekend.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2021
The empty grenade was then picked up and treated as a 'dud,' i.e. one that had misfired.
From Q.6.a and Other places Recollections of 1916, 1917 and 1918 by Francis Buckley
