ignite

1 of 2

verb

ig·​nite ig-ˈnīt 

ignited; igniting

transitive verb

1

a

: to set afire

also : kindle

b

: to cause (a fuel) to burn

2

: to subject to fire or intense heat

especially : to render luminous by heat

3

a

: to heat up : excite

oppression that ignited the hatred of the people

b

: to set in motion : spark

ignite a debate

intransitive verb

1

: to catch fire

2

: to begin to glow

ignitability

ig-ˌnī-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

ignitable adjective

or less commonly ignitible

ig-ˈnī-tə-bəl 

igniter noun

or less commonly ignitor

ig-ˈnī-tər 

ignitable

2 of 2

adjective

ig·​nit·​able

variants or less commonly ignitible

(ˈ)ig¦nītəbəl 

: capable of being ignited

Synonyms of ignite

Verb

• burn
• scorch
• light
• inflame
• fire

Examples of ignite in a Sentence

Verb

The fire was ignited by sparks.

The paper ignited on contact with sparks.

a material that ignites easily

Three wins in a row ignited the team.

His proposal is igniting opposition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At game’s end, Missouri players attempted to plant the state flag on the Jayhawk logo at midfield and nearly ignited a brawl. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

That ignited a recovery in the broader stock market, which brought the S & P 500 and Nasdaq up towards the flat line. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Four people were taken to the hospital Monday after a construction rig toppled onto three vehicles and a construction container in Miami, trapping two workers and igniting a vehicle fire, authorities said. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2026

The combination of the Houthis’ tightening grip over shipping in the Red Sea and Friday’s pipeline closure have ignited fears that the main escape valves for the region’s oil are slamming shut. — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin ignitus, past participle of ignire to ignite, from ignis

First Known Use

Verb

1666, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing ignite

• self-ignite

Rhymes for ignite

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

ignite

verb

ig·​nite ig-ˈnīt 

ignited; igniting

1

a

: to set on fire : light

b

: to cause (a fuel mixture) to burn

2

: to catch fire

3

: to set in motion : spark

ignite a debate

ignitable

-ˈnīt-ə-bəl

adjective

igniter noun

also ignitor

-ˈnīt-ər