Word
gunning
Phoneticsgun·ning
US/ˈɡənɪŋ/
UK/ɡˈʌnɪŋ/
Definition
v. to try very hard to get something or to defeat someone. You often use it when there is a lot of competition for a job or a prize.
v. striving intensely to achieve a specific goal or to displace a competitor. Often used in the progressive form with the preposition 'for'.
Examples
“Several young managers are gunning for the director's job.”
“After losing the championship last year, the team is gunning for a victory in the upcoming tournament.”
“The investigative journalists were gunning for the corrupt official, meticulously documenting every financial discrepancy to ensure the story would lead to a formal inquiry.”
Examples
simple
“Several young managers are gunning for the director's job.”
contextual
“After losing the championship last year, the team is gunning for a victory in the upcoming tournament.”
complex
“The investigative journalists were gunning for the corrupt official, meticulously documenting every financial discrepancy to ensure the story would lead to a formal inquiry.”
Usage
Typically used in the continuous form ('gunning') and followed by the preposition 'for'.
Pitfall
He is gunning the promotion
He is gunning for the promotion
In this sense, the verb requires the preposition 'for' to connect to the target or goal.
Real-World Examples
“The 24-year-old, who's gunning for a historic quadruple win at the event this week, told BBC Newsbeat "the glam definitely helps that mentality because sprinting is such a confidence game".” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/gunning