gun

1 of 2

noun

ˈgən How to pronounce gun (audio)
Synonyms of gunnext
1
a
: a piece of ordnance usually with high muzzle velocity and comparatively flat trajectory
b
: a portable firearm (such as a rifle or handgun)
c
: a device that throws a projectile
2
a
: a discharge of a gun especially as a salute or signal
b
: a signal marking a beginning or ending
3
a
: hunter
b
: gunman
4
: something suggesting a gun in shape or function
5
: throttle
6
slang : a person's arm
specifically : an arm that has well-defined muscles
—usually plural
Conor was spotted rowing away from The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park Saturday with his girlfriend, Dee Devlin, and their cute son, Conor Jr. The famous fighter showed off his guns while handling the oars for his crew. —TMZ.com
The Heisman Trophy-winning and former NFL quarterback worked the stage the way he probably jabs through the weight room—whilst checking out his guns in the mirror … —Tory Barron
gunned
ˈgənd How to pronounce gun (audio)
adjective

gun

2 of 2

verb

gunned; gunning

transitive verb

1
a
: to fire on
b
: shoot
gunned down by a hit man
2
a
: to open up the throttle of so as to increase speed
gun the engine
b
: fire sense 3b
gunned the ball to first base

intransitive verb

: to hunt with a gun
Phrases
under the gun
: under pressure or attack
gun for
: to aim at or go after with determination or effort

Did you know?

A ballista (a large missile-thrower in the form of a crossbow) that defended Windsor Castle in the 14th century was named in Latin Domina Gunilda, or “Lady Gunilda.” Gunilda is an Old Norse name and is a compound of gunnr and hildr, both words meaning “battle.” The English may have learned the name from early Norsemen who knew its etymological significance, or its use by the English may have been a coincidence. However, the use of this name for the Windsor ballista was not an isolated incident. Gonnylyde was the name of a cannon in a 14th century song. Our word gun, which also traces back to the 14th century, is probably a shortening of Gunilda.

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of gun in a Sentence

Noun a gun battle between gang members and the police She claimed that the gun went off accidentally. Verb She let the car coast down the hill, then gunned it. The shortstop gunned the ball to first base.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
During the incident, Marcus Evans, 31, was contacted by police in connection with a report that a man had threatened a woman with a gun. —Christian Martinez, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024 My experience with guns has been so intermittent throughout my life. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
Political control of the Arizona Senate is on the ballot, with Democrats gunning to break a nearly 25-year string of Republican dominance. —Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024 When Kate finds out that Hal has accepted the dinner invitation with Grove for that evening, she is enraged by the realization that her soon-to-be ex-husband is potentially gunning for the Secretary of State position. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gun 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gonne, gunne

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1622, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of gun was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing gun

Dictionary Entries Near gun

gumwood

gun

guna

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

gun

1 of 2 noun
ˈgən How to pronounce gun (audio)
1
a
: an artillery piece with a usually long barrel and firing shot or shells in a somewhat flattened curve
b
: a portable firearm (as a rifle or pistol)
2
a
: a firing of a gun
a 21-gun salute
b
: a signal marking a beginning or ending
the opening gun of the campaign
3
: something suggesting a gun in shape or use
a grease gun
4
: throttle entry 2 sense 1
gunned
ˈgənd How to pronounce gun (audio)
adjective

gun

2 of 2 verb
gunned; gunning
1
: to hunt or shoot with a gun
gunning for rabbits
2
: to open up the throttle of so as to increase speed
gun the engine

More from Merriam-Webster on gun

Nglish: Translation of gun for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of gun for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Is That Gratitude or Attitude? A Thanksgiving Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...