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 man struck Stallworth and started fighting with him, gaining control of the gun, tried to return fire and fled the scene, the affidavit states.
—
Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Authorities said Paez Terán then shot at the troopers from inside the tent, wounding one of them and prompting the troopers to return fire, killing the activist who went by the name of Tortuguita.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Davis said the shooter fired at officers, prompting them to return fire.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
The trooper did not return fire.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for return fire
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Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Authorities said Paez Terán then shot at the troopers from inside the tent, wounding one of them and prompting the troopers to return fire, killing the activist who went by the name of Tortuguita.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Davis said the shooter fired at officers, prompting them to return fire.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
The trooper did not return fire.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
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 6 Apr. 2026.
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