English Reference
noun

firing

n.
US /ˈfaɪɝɹɪŋ/ UK /fˈaɪəɹɪŋ/ fir·ing UK spelling firings

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of shooting a gun or other weapon.

    the discharge of a firearm or other projectile weapon.

    Simple

    The sudden firing of a gun in the distance startled the birds.

    In context

    The rapid firing of artillery could be heard for miles, echoing through the valley long after the initial engagement had ended.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of telling someone they no longer have a job, usually because of bad work.

    the termination of an individual's employment, typically due to poor performance or misconduct.

    Simple

    After the firing of the manager, the company looked for a replacement.

    In context

    The sudden firing of the chief executive led to a sharp decline in the company's stock price as investors grew concerned about stability.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Cooking

    the process of using high heat to make clay hard and turn it into pottery.

    the process of applying heat to ceramic materials in a kiln to achieve structural hardening or glazing.

    Simple

    The pottery needs a second firing to make the colorful glaze shine.

    In context

    During the initial firing, the clay undergoes a chemical transformation that renders it permanently hard and water-resistant.

The conversation ended abruptly with Chalong pulling out a gun and firing four shots through the window of Thongchai's car, hitting him and his driver.

BBC News· 16 Aug 2026

Thirteen other siege engines had been firing at all hours of the day and night for three months before that.

Ars Technica· 17 Aug 2026

By surface analysis, fire + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated