# fires

/ˈfaɪɝz/ (US) · /fˈaɪəz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fires
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. to shoot a weapon

verb · CEFR B1

to shoot a gun or other weapon.

For teachers: to discharge a firearm or other projectile weapon; third-person singular present form.

- The soldier fires his rifle at the target during practice.
- The automated system fires a warning shot if an unidentified vessel enters the restricted zone without authorization.

### 3. to dismiss from a job

verb · CEFR B2

to tell someone they can no longer work at a company.

For teachers: to terminate an individual's employment, typically due to poor performance or misconduct.

- The manager fires anyone who is caught stealing from the shop.
- The board of directors rarely fires a CEO without significant evidence of financial mismanagement or a breach of contract.

### 4. to inspire

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to make someone feel very excited or interested in something.

For teachers: to stimulate or inspire someone's imagination or enthusiasm.

- The teacher's passion for history really fires the students' imagination.
- The prospect of discovering a new species fires the researcher's ambition, driving her to work long hours in the field.

## Examples

- The campers sat around the fire to stay warm.
- Emergency services responded quickly to several small fires caused by lightning strikes during the summer storm.
- While controlled fires are essential for the health of certain forest ecosystems, the increasing frequency of uncontrolled blazes poses a significant threat to local biodiversity and residential areas.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.