WordLens

misfire

1 of 2verb
/mɪsˈfaɪr/
Forms:misfires,misfiring,misfired,misfired
1

to fail to shoot a bullet

2

(of a plan) to fail to have the intended result

C2transitive
  • The marketing campaign turned out to be a misfire, generating little interest in the new product.
  • Their plan to boost sales by offering discounts misfired, resulting in lower profits.
  • His attempt to surprise her with a grand gesture misfired when she misunderstood his intentions.
  • The company's expansion into the international market misfired due to unforeseen regulatory issues.
  • The politician's strategy to win over young voters misfired, alienating his core supporters instead.
3

(of a vehicle or engine) to fail to ignite properly or skip a beat during operation

  • My car misfires occasionally, especially when it's cold outside.
  • The engine misfires if I don't maintain it regularly.
  • The mechanic is fixing the issue that causes the engine to misfire.
  • Last week, my motorcycle misfired on the way to work, causing me to be late.
  • While I was driving home yesterday, the engine was misfiring continuously.