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 officers were unable to return fire, but escaped.
—
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2025
Sackett was able to return fire but did not hit any of the suspects.
—Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2025
The suspect immediately started shooting, striking Rocky twice before officers could return fire, said Diaz.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Rodrigues then shot at police from inside the home, prompting them to return fire and kill him, police told The News & Observer.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for return fire
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Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2025
Sackett was able to return fire but did not hit any of the suspects.
—Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2025
The suspect immediately started shooting, striking Rocky twice before officers could return fire, said Diaz.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Rodrigues then shot at police from inside the home, prompting them to return fire and kill him, police told The News & Observer.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for return fire
Cite this Entry
“Return fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/return%20fire. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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