Word
gunfire
Phoneticsgun·fire
US/ˈɡənˌfaɪɝ/
UK/ɡˈʌnfaɪə/
Definitions
01shooting
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the sound or action of guns being fired.
n. the discharge of firearms, specifically the repeated firing of guns in a military or criminal context.
“The sound of distant gunfire kept the residents awake all night.”
“The sudden burst of heavy gunfire from the ridge forced the advancing infantry to seek immediate cover behind the stone walls.”
Antonyms
02morning tea
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Military British English · Slang
n. a cup of tea served very early in the morning, especially in the army.
n. a cup of tea served to soldiers before the first morning parade.
“The sergeant woke the men up with a hot cup of gunfire before the drill.”
“In the traditional British Army mess, 'gunfire' refers to the early morning tea served to soldiers in their barracks before the day's duties begin.”
Usage
Usually uncountable and used within a specific military subculture.
Teaching tip
This is a very niche British military term; most modern speakers will only know the 'shooting' sense.
Real-World Examples
“On Friday, shortly before 7 p.m., police responded to reports of gunfire in the area of John Prentice Park, near Renata Ct.” “We were on private Palestinian land.”
A few minutes after they started work, the group heard gunfire from the settler outpost and were forced to take cover.” Etymology
From gun + fire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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