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backfire

0 antonyms and opposites of backfire, grouped by meaning.

Verb — Of an engine or gun, to ignite or explode unexpectedly in the wrong direction, often with a loud pop.

How to use backfire

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

the plan backfired backfire spectacularly

Etymology

From back + fire.

Full origin of backfire →

Frequently asked questions

What does “backfire” mean?

The word “backfire” means of an engine or gun, to ignite or explode unexpectedly in the wrong direction, often with a loud pop. In plain terms, to go wrong in a way that causes more trouble than before — like a plan that blows up in your face.

How do you pronounce “backfire”?

“Backfire” is pronounced bak-FEYE-uh (/bækˈfaɪə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “backfire” in a sentence?

Here is “backfire” used in a sentence: “The old truck backfired loudly at every red light.”

What part of speech is “backfire”?

“Backfire” is a verb.

How many meanings does “backfire” have?

“Backfire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of an engine or gun, to ignite or explode unexpectedly in the wrong direction, often with a loud pop.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.