- 1[intransitive, transitive] to shoot bullets from a gun The officer ordered his men to fire. fire on somebody/something Soldiers fired on the crowd. fire something They ran away as soon as the first shot was fired. fire (something) (into something) He fired the gun into the air. fire (something) (at somebody/something) Missiles were fired at the enemy. Topic CollocationsWar and Peacestarting a war
- declare/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody's territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/maneuvers
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct an (air/airborne/amphibious) attack/a surprise attack (on somebody); an assault/a raid (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the American/German advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines/Coast Guard/reserves
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- do/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- witness/see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a(n) cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as/be taken as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to a concentration/an internment camp
- accept/house/resettle/turn away refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
- 2[intransitive, transitive] (of a gun) to shoot bullets out We heard the sound of guns firing. fire something A starter's pistol fires only blanks.
- 3[transitive] fire something to shoot an arrow She fired an arrow at the target. from job
- 4[transitive] fire somebody to force someone to leave their job synonym dismiss We had to fire him for dishonesty. She got fired from her first job. He was responsible for hiring and firing staff. Topic CollocationsUnemploymentlosing your job
- lose/quit/leave your job
- get/be fired/ (informal) laid off/ (formal) terminated/asked to resign (for doing something)
- be offered/take early retirement
- face/be threatened with dismissal
- dismiss/fire an employee/a worker/a manager
- lay off staff/workers/employees
- cut/reduce/downsize the workforce
- be unemployed/out of work/out of a job
- look for/seek work/employment
- be on/collect/draw/get/receive unemployment (benefits)
- claim/draw/get/be on/qualify for unemployment (compensation)
- be/go/live/depend on welfare
- collect/receive/apply for/qualify for welfare
- combat/tackle/cut/reduce unemployment
make someone enthusiastic - 5[transitive] fire somebody (with something) to make someone feel very excited about something or interested in something The talk had fired her with enthusiasm for the project. His imagination was fired by the film. of engine
- 6[intransitive] when an engine fires, an electrical spark is produced that makes the fuel burn and the engine start to work -fired
- 7(in adjectives) using the fuel mentioned in order to operate a gas-fired heating system
- 8[transitive] fire something to heat a clay object to make it hard and strong to fire pottery to fire bricks in a kiln Idioms
fire
verbNAmE//ˈfaɪər//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they fire he / she / it fires
past simple fired
-ing form firing
to ask someone a lot of questions one after another or make a lot of comments very quickly The room was full of journalists, all firing questions at them.
using all your energy to do something; working as well as possible Phrasal Verbsfire awayfire offfire up
Check pronunciation: fire