# Gunning

/ˈɡənɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡˈʌnɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gunning
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is gunning the promotion" but "He is gunning for the promotion" — In this sense, the verb requires the preposition 'for' to connect to the target or goal.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in the continuous form ('gunning') and followed by the preposition 'for'.

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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.