What does gunning mean?
Gunning is the present participle of gun and most literally means engaging in a hunt with a gun. In figurative use, “gunning for” means pursuing a person, position, prize, or goal with persistent or aggressive determination: a candidate may be gunning for office, while a rival company may be gunning for market share. A further, usually informal sense is “gunning” an engine, meaning running it at high speed or making it roar loudly. These meanings share an image of forceful action, but they are not interchangeable: the word need not imply actual shooting, and the figurative sense usually focuses on determined pursuit rather than violence. Gunning is common in British and American English, especially in the idiomatic phrase “gunning for.” The word is also used in descriptions of firearms, hunting, motors, machinery, and competitive ambition, making it useful in both literal and figurative discussion.
verbGunning means hunting or shooting with a gun. It can also mean pursuing a goal aggressively or operating an engine or motor at high speed.
- Engaging in hunting or shooting with a gun or other firearm.
- Pursuing a person, position, prize, or goal with persistent or aggressive determination.
- Operating an engine or motor at high speed.
"The company has been gunning for a leading position in the market."
"The hunting party spent the morning gunning for deer."
"Several applicants are gunning for the vacant director's position."
From hunting with a firearm to chasing a promotion at full throttle, gunning always conveys forceful determination.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gunning come from?
Gunning was formed in English by adding the present-participle suffix -ing to gun. Gun comes from Middle English gun, with an Old English form gonne; the word is generally linked to Old Norse gunnr, although its precise development is debated. The same root underlies words such as gunner, gunnery, and gunpowder.
How gunning is actually used
The phrase “gunning for” is common in both formal and informal contexts and often suggests determination that may be competitive or aggressive. The engine sense is mainly informal and technical.
Easily confused with gunning
Cunning means clever or sly, whereas gunning involves hunting with a gun or pursuing a goal with aggressive determination.