return fire
noun
: the firing of a weapon to counter a shooter's shot
The suspect started shooting and was wounded by the return fire of the police.
Examples of return fire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The agent began shooting at the armed man, and the gunman did not return fire, according to authorities.
—
Alana Wise, NPR, 19 Sep. 2024
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 13 July 2024
Officers did not return fire and chased the car, police said.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2024
Secret Service snipers almost immediately spotted Crooks and killed him with return fire.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for return fire 
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.
Alana Wise, NPR, 19 Sep. 2024
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 13 July 2024
Officers did not return fire and chased the car, police said.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2024
Secret Service snipers almost immediately spotted Crooks and killed him with return fire.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for return fire
Dictionary Entries Near return fire
Cite this Entry
“Return fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/return%20fire. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share