rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire ˌra-pəd-ˈfī(-ə)r 

1

: firing or adapted for firing shots in rapid succession

2

: marked by rapidity, liveliness, or sharpness

a comedian with a rapid-fire delivery

Synonyms

• blistering
• breakneck
• breathless
• brisk
• dizzy
• fast
• fleet
• fleet-footed
• flying
• galloping
• hasty
• hot
• lightning
• nippy
• quick
• rapid
• rattling
• snappy
• speedy
• splitting
• swift
• whirlwind
• zippy

Examples of rapid-fire in a Sentence

the witness stayed unruffled all through the prosecutor's rapid-fire questioning

Recent Examples on the Web

This game requires players to cooperate to prepare, cook, and plate food for customers in a rapid-fire environment. —Brad Bourque, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2025

Funding Freeze Bruises Farmers: A rapid-fire array of directives by the Trump administration have left farmers and businesses in rural America reeling, setting off and panic among a core constituency. —Tailyr Irvine, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

But his rapid-fire developments in recent days have taken many aback, including Ukrainians. —Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 20 Feb. 2025

Some agencies have struggled to comply with the rapid-fire directives Trump has issued since taking office a month ago. —Nathan Layne and Andy Sullivan, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rapid-fire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer

Kids Definition

rapid-fire

adjective

rap·​id-fire

ˌrap-əd-ˈfī(ə)r

1

: able to fire shots rapidly

a rapid-fire weapon

2

: marked by a rapid rate or pace

spoke rapid-fire Spanish