ignite

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 

Synonyms of ignite

• burn
• scorch
• light
• inflame
• fire

Examples of ignite in a Sentence

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

Tensions escalated in the city chambers as the meeting went on, with councilmembers calling multiple recesses and eventually clearing the chambers after shouting matches ignited. —Victoria Le, Oc Register, 27 May 2026

Fire officials say the e-bike experienced thermal runaway, which ignited the fire. —Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 27 May 2026

The casting of Erivo and Grande, as yin-and-yang besties Elphaba and Glinda, ignited the internet. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 May 2026

Two years prior, Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white officer in Minneapolis, igniting global Black Lives Matter protests and calls to defund the police. —ABC News, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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