gun 1 of 2

noun

ˈgən How to pronounce gun (audio)
Definition of gunnext
1
as in firearm
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder while her father preferred hunting with a crossbow, she preferred a gun

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2
as in artillery
guns plural large firearms (as cannons or rockets) the field commander called for the big guns to be deployed for the full-scale assault

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gun

2 of 2

verb

as in to shoot
to strike with a missile from a gun traded stories of the Wild West, when outlaws gunned men down in broad daylight and in cold blood

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gun
Noun
Sheriff’s officials said Mullennix pointed a gun at a detective and threatened to shoot him before barricading herself inside the home. — Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026 The gun had been purchased by his mother, a senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told CNN earlier Friday. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
Some Democratic candidates gunning to replace Graham Platner have criticized Collins’ recent vote to continue funding the agency without requiring additional guardrails. — NBC news, 15 July 2026 Amid allegations of sharing customer data with China, Australian payments startup Airwallex, now valued at $11 billion, is gunning for Stripe and Ramp. — Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gun
  1. firearm
  2. artillery
  3. shoot
  4. rifle
  5. weapons
  6. drill
Noun
  • Several firearms and other evidence were found by police inside the home.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Minors can also temporarily possess firearms for lawful reasons, such as hunting or target practice.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of firearm
Noun
  • This weekend was the last one when anyone will get to see the massive installation in the artillery sheds.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For example, the United States bought 155-millimeter artillery shells from South Korea and PAC-3 interceptors from Japan to backfill American munitions for Ukraine.
    — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of artillery
Verb
  • Belgal was shot by ICE Thursday, according to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said agents surrounded the man and a 5-year-old child in his car before firing multiple times.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Original color photographs were scarce, since continuity stills were usually shot in black-and-white to save money.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of shoot
Noun
  • The attack came 10 days after settlers beat Agence France-Presse photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh with rifle butts in the northern West Bank village of Aqraba.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In 2022, a 20-year-old gunman, a Bend resident, killed two people after walking into a grocery store with an AR-15-style rifle and opening fire.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of rifle
Noun
  • Zelenskyy said Russia had attacked Ukraine with more than 100 weapons since Monday evening.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Years of convictions for escape, battery and weapons while in prison kept adding time to his total sentence.
    — David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of weapons
Verb
  • Broncos kicker Wil Lutz drilled a 53-yard field goal in overtime to elevate Denver to a 17-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Public-health and environmental advocates have also raised concerns about drilling near communities, including potential air- and water-quality harms.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of drill

Phrases Containing gun

Browse Nearby Words

gum (up)
gun
gundog
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Cite this Entry

“Gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gun. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gun

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gun

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