gunfire

gunfire — noun

1. the sound or action of guns being fired, especially when several shots are heard

1.nounB1
Definition

the sound or action of guns being fired, especially when several shots are heard in quick succession

Example

Residents reported hearing gunfire near the school around midnight.

The sound of distant gunfire echoed through the empty streets.

collocation: distant gunfire

Common collocations
  • heavy gunfire
  • distant gunfire
  • sporadic gunfire
  • gunfire erupted
  • gunfire broke out
  • burst of gunfire
  • exchange of gunfire
  • sound of gunfire
Synonyms
  • shooting

    more general and can refer to any kind of shooting, including sports or hunting

  • gunshot

    refers to a single shot rather than continuous firing

  • fire

    broader in meaning; used in military contexts like 'ceasefire' or 'open fire'

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun (no plural)

Usage Note

Gunfire is an uncountable noun and has no plural form. Use 'a shot' or 'a gunshot' to refer to a single instance, not 'a gunfire'.

Common Mistakes

I heard two gunfires in the distance.
I heard two gunshots in the distance.
gunfire is uncountable; use 'gunshot' for individual shots.
There was a loud gunfire.
There was a loud bang from a gun.' or 'There was a burst of gunfire.
gunfire is not used with 'a' for a single shot; use 'a shot' or 'a burst of gunfire'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Gunfire, shooting, gunshot, fire, and fusillade all relate to discharging guns, but differ in scope and countability. Gunfire (uncountable) emphasizes repeated or sustained shooting — the event or sound of multiple guns being fired, as in 'The crackle of gunfire filled the air.' Shooting (also uncountable or countable with 'a shooting') is the broadest term — it can mean any act of firing a gun, from a hunting trip ('the weekend shooting') to a targeted attack ('a school shooting'). Gunshot (countable) refers to a single shot: 'A gunshot rang out.' Fire (uncountable) is a military term for discharging weapons ('open fire', 'cease fire') that extends metaphorically to orders and commands. Fusillade (countable, formal) describes a rapid, synchronized burst of shots from multiple guns. For everyday reporting of conflict or crime, 'gunfire' is the natural choice; for a single event, use 'gunshot'.

shooting ↗gunshot ↗gunfire ↗fire ↗fusillade

Common collocations

Phrases

  • heavy gunfire
  • distant gunfire
  • sporadic gunfire
  • a burst of gunfire
  • an exchange of gunfire
  • the sound of gunfire
  • gunfire erupted
  • gunfire broke out

Etymology

Old NorseOld EnglishEnglish

Gunfire is a compound of 'gun' and 'fire', both from Old English. 'Gun' comes from the Old Norse word 'gunnr', meaning 'war', and 'fire' comes from 'fȳr', the Old English word for 'flame' or 'burning'. The two words were first combined in English around the late 1500s to describe the act of igniting gunpowder and shooting a firearm.