misfire
Misfire (verb) means to fail to fire or ignite properly, as with a gun or an engine. Example: “The old rifle misfired twice before finally going off.”
How to use misfire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fail to go off properly, or to fail to work as intended.
Word forms
misfired past tense, misfires plural, misfires singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old rifle _____ twice before finally going off.
Etymology
Either a fusion of the older phrase "miss fire" or a direct combination of mis- + fire.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for misfire
See all rhymes for misfire →Frequently asked questions
What does “misfire” mean?
The word “misfire” means to fail to fire or ignite properly, as with a gun or an engine. In plain terms, to fail to go off properly, or to fail to work as intended.
How do you pronounce “misfire”?
“Misfire” is pronounced MIHS-feye (/ˈmɪs.faɪ.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “misfire” in a sentence?
Here is “misfire” used in a sentence: “The old rifle misfired twice before finally going off.”
What part of speech is “misfire”?
Depending on how it is used, “misfire” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “misfire” have?
“Misfire” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fail to fire or ignite properly, as with a gun or an engine.