kindle

1 of 2

verb (1)

kin·​dle ˈkin-dᵊl 

kindled; kindling ˈkin(d)-liŋ 

ˈkin-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to start (a fire) burning : light

using dry twigs to kindle a fire

2

a

: to stir up : arouse

kindle a child's interest in art

b

: to bring into being : start

3

: to cause to glow : illuminate

… animation kindling his pale face.

—A. J. Cronin

intransitive verb

1

: to catch fire : begin to burn

waiting for the fire to kindle

2

a

: to flare up

… their mutual resentment again kindled …

—Edward Gibbon

b

: to become animated

… no boy will fail to kindle to the struggles of his California youth …

—Ethna Sheehan

3

: to become illuminated

Light kindled in the liquor.

—Frances G. Patton

kindler

ˈkin(d)-lər 

ˈkin-dᵊl-ər

noun

kindle

2 of 2

verb (2)

kindled; kindling

transitive verb

: bear sense 3a

—used especially of a rabbit

intransitive verb

: to bring forth young

—used especially of a rabbit

Synonyms of kindle

Verb (1)

• burn
• ignite
• light
• fire
• torch
• scorch

Examples of kindle in a Sentence

Verb (1)

worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-stricken nature preserve

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026

The Lakers picked up steam down the stretch in the regular season, winning 16 of 18 heading into April and kindling hope of being a dark-horse candidate to give trouble to the Thunder or Spurs in the playoffs. —ABC News, 12 May 2026

Earlier this month, a balloon coated in aluminum foil—the kind normally seen at a child’s birthday party—drifted into the path of a transmission line, kindling an electrical spark that ignited dry vegetation nearby. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2026

America's hopes for its first high-speed rail were kindled in 2008, when California voters approved a ballot measure for a train connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours. —Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, probably modification of Old Norse kynda; akin to Old High German cuntesal fire

Verb (2)

Middle English, from kindle young animal, probably from kinde, noun, kind

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for kindle

• brindle
• dwindle
• grindal
• grindle
• spindle
• swindle
• windle
• rekindle

Kids Definition

kindle

verb

kin·​dle

ˈkin-dᵊl

kindled; kindling

-(d)liŋ, 

-dᵊl-iŋ

1

: to set on fire or take fire : light

2

: to stir up : excite

trying to kindle their interest

Medical Definition

kindle

intransitive verb

kin·​dle ˈkin-dᵊl 

kindled; kindling

: to bring forth young

—used chiefly of a rabbit