1
a
: a small particle of a burning substance thrown out by a body in combustion or remaining when combustion is nearly completed
b
: a hot glowing particle struck from a larger mass
especially
: one heated by friction
2
a
: a luminous disruptive electrical discharge of very short duration between two conductors separated by a gas (such as air)
b
: the discharge in a spark plug
c
: the mechanism controlling the discharge in a spark plug
4
: something that sets off a sudden force
provided the spark that helped the team to rally
5
: a latent particle capable of growth or developing : germ
still retains a spark of decency
6
sparks plural in form but singular in construction
: a radio operator on a ship
sparked; sparking; sparks
1
a
: to throw out sparks
b
: to flash or fall like sparks
2
: to produce sparks
specifically
: to have the electric ignition working
3
: to respond with enthusiasm
Synonyms
Examples of spark in a Sentence
Noun (1)
not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs
Verb (1)
the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in
interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain
President Kennedy's inspirational speeches sparked a generation of young idealists to enter the public arena
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Longeretta, Variety, 13 May 2024
Washington added another putback to finish with 11 in the opening quarter and earned praise from his teammates for providing that early spark while the offense settled in.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2024
Contestants will couple up and test a potential spark through compatibility challenges, which grant the winners an opportunity to bring in new singles to shake up the competition.
—Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
Extensive evidence that implementing digital measurement of PA into care workflows improves their patients’ health could be the spark that many need to begin doing this.
—Laurie Whitsel, STAT, 6 May 2024
While sparks immediately fly, Solène is at first wary of starting anything with a much younger guy whom paparazzi and screaming fans constantly follow around.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 May 2024
With the Tattooist of Auschwitz, an instant and sustained spark between the Lali and Gita characters was crucial.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2024
Jade Cargill and her husband, former Cincinnati Reds star Brandon Phillips, had an instant spark.
—Emma Kershaw, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
Secure dragging trailer chains to avoid creating sparks.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Koh Ewe, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
With its captivating storytelling and vibrant illustrations, this book sparks imagination and curiosity while highlighting valuable life lessons.
—Lilian Gonzalez, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
The bill's creation was sparked by concerns about the troves of personal user data collected by TikTok and ByteDance, which critics claim poses a national security threat, based on fears the information could be tapped by the Chinese government.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024
The show also sparked women to follow in the footsteps of Meredith Grey and pursue a career in medicine.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The pandemic upset a delicate balance of part-time and full-time residents in a community in the Poconos, sparking a debate over short-term rentals.
—Eduardo Medina Eduardo Medina, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
That leaves a final vote before the County Commission to approve the sale in the coming weeks, though the proposal did spark some concerns at the hearing.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Ooh, sparks between Sebastian and Taylor are flying, despite his previous shopping date with Kelli!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
The move was an escalation in the company’s opposition to the bill, which has not yet become law but has already sparked debate over who would benefit, and whether restricting access to news content might inhibit democracy.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
Noun
When a popular cooking show comes to town, things get more complicated as sparks begin to fly and secrets are uncovered.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 13 May 2024
Washington added another putback to finish with 11 in the opening quarter and earned praise from his teammates for providing that early spark while the offense settled in.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2024
Contestants will couple up and test a potential spark through compatibility challenges, which grant the winners an opportunity to bring in new singles to shake up the competition.
—Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
Extensive evidence that implementing digital measurement of PA into care workflows improves their patients’ health could be the spark that many need to begin doing this.
—Laurie Whitsel, STAT, 6 May 2024
While sparks immediately fly, Solène is at first wary of starting anything with a much younger guy whom paparazzi and screaming fans constantly follow around.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 May 2024
With the Tattooist of Auschwitz, an instant and sustained spark between the Lali and Gita characters was crucial.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2024
Jade Cargill and her husband, former Cincinnati Reds star Brandon Phillips, had an instant spark.
—Emma Kershaw, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
Secure dragging trailer chains to avoid creating sparks.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
The weekend attack sparked widespread fears of a sharp escalation of conflict, as regional tensions have heightened amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
With its captivating storytelling and vibrant illustrations, this book sparks imagination and curiosity while highlighting valuable life lessons.
—Lilian Gonzalez, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
The bill's creation was sparked by concerns about the troves of personal user data collected by TikTok and ByteDance, which critics claim poses a national security threat, based on fears the information could be tapped by the Chinese government.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024
The show also sparked women to follow in the footsteps of Meredith Grey and pursue a career in medicine.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The pandemic upset a delicate balance of part-time and full-time residents in a community in the Poconos, sparking a debate over short-term rentals.
—Eduardo Medina Eduardo Medina, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
That leaves a final vote before the County Commission to approve the sale in the coming weeks, though the proposal did spark some concerns at the hearing.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Ooh, sparks between Sebastian and Taylor are flying, despite his previous shopping date with Kelli!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
The move was an escalation in the company’s opposition to the bill, which has not yet become law but has already sparked debate over who would benefit, and whether restricting access to news content might inhibit democracy.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spark
Cite this Entry
“Spark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spark. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spark
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a small bit of a burning material
b
: a hot glowing bit struck from a mass
2
: a short bright flash of electricity between two points
4
: a small amount that could grow into something larger
still has a spark of decency
spark
2 of 3 verb1
: to give off or cause to give off sparks
2
: to cause to get going
the question sparked quite an argument
sparked the team to victory
Etymology
Noun
Old English spearca "spark"
Verb
from earlier spark (noun) "a foolish young man, boyfriend"
Biographical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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