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Gunner
01
a member of an armed force who is specifically trained to fire large guns
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Human
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
gunners
Examples
The gunner adjusted the artillery's elevation before firing at the distant target.
02
someone who's aggressively competitive, especially in school or sports
Slang
What does "gunner" mean in competitive slang?
The term "gunner" refers to a person who is aggressively competitive, especially in academic or sports settings, often prioritizing winning or high performance above collaboration. The structure is informal slang derived from "gun," implying forceful pursuit or attack, extended metaphorically to ambition and competition. It is commonly used in school and professional contexts, sometimes neutrally and sometimes critically, to describe someone highly driven and willing to outcompete others.
Examples
That med student 's a total gunner, always answering first.
Lexical Tree
gunner
gun
