machine-gun

1 of 3

adjective

ma·​chine-gun mə-ˈshēn-ˌgən How to pronounce machine-gun (audio)
: characterized by rapidity and sharpness : rapid-fire
a comic's machine-gun delivery

machine-gun

2 of 3

verb

machine-gunned; machine-gunning; machine-guns

transitive verb

: to shoot at, wound, or kill (someone or something) with a machine gun
machine-gunned a marauding gang of terrorists outside the U.S. embassy …Terry Eagleton
A few years later someone machine-gunned to death the prosecutor who wanted to try the group for killing the soldiers.Paul Berman
machine gunner noun
or less commonly machine-gunner
plural machine gunners also machine-gunners
These battalions were composed of the hardened infantrymen—riflemen, machine gunners, grenadiers, and mortarmen—who carried the main burden of the war. Shelby L. Stanton

machine gun

3 of 3

noun

plural machine guns
: a gun for sustained rapid fire that uses bullets
broadly : an automatic weapon

Examples of machine-gun in a Sentence

Noun They heard the sound of machine-gun fire.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The Swiss-French architect and artist known as Le Corbusier built the Convent at Sainte Marie de La Tourette in France in the 1950s with concrete shapes resembling cannons and machine-gun barrels in its walls. Michael Allen, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025 The same is true for untraceable ghost guns and machine-gun conversion devices, such as Glock switches, which turn semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. Nick Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
As someone who grew up in the Dodgers’ family and now can’t stand the sight of them, who wants to beat them as Buddy Rich might machine-gun his snare drum. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2023
Noun
The digital deluxe edition, which costs $79.99, includes the game, three pieces of in-game legwear, an early unlock for a machine gun, as well as three patches and early access starting on June 24. William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025 Helicopters with machine guns and outfitted with crude bombs have also been used. Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for machine-gun

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1906, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of machine-gun was in 1867

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Machine-gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machine-gun. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

machine gun

noun
: an automatic gun capable of continuous firing
machine-gun verb
machine gunner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on machine-gun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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