1
: the glowing gaseous part of a fire
2
a
: a state of blazing combustion
the car burst into flame
b
: a condition or appearance suggesting a flame or burning: such as
(1)
: burning zeal or passion
(2)
: a strong reddish-orange color
3
5
: the memory, reputation, or beliefs of a deceased person
6
: an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message
flamed; flaming
1
: to burn with a flame : blaze
2
a
: to burst or break out violently or passionately
flaming with indignation
b
: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message
3
: to shine brightly : glow
color flaming up in her cheeks
1
: to send or convey by means of flame
flame a message by signal fires
2
3
: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message to or about
flamer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of flame in a Sentence
Noun
the flame of a candle
We built a fire and roasted marshmallows over the flames.
They tried to put out the fire, but the flames grew higher.
The engine burst into flame.
Verb
A fire flamed in the oven.
The sun flamed through the clouds.
color flaming in her cheeks
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Recent Examples on the Web
WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023
In addition to pallets, sanitizer accumulated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was stored under the overpass and helped fuel the flames, according to sources familiar with the probe who were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation.
—Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The sky was orange as the 10+ ft flames advanced through the canyon.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023
Dozens of people were hospitalized after at least three of the vehicles burst into flames.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
The intense flames battered close to 100 columns supporting the highway, the governor added.
—Vik Jolly, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
Firefighters from several agencies worked to put out the flames, which burned up a brushy hillside toward homes, and firefighting helicopters could be seen dropping water scooped from nearby Calavera Lake.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Longtime loves and hot new flames are all dressed in perfect harmony for one of country music's biggest nights of the year.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
There are people wall to wall and flames shooting up from the blasters behind Uncle Waffles, a part of the set design.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2023
Spin Contributor, SPIN, 17 Nov. 2023
Explore See latest videos, charts and news In the photos, Carey sports a curve-hugging red dress, purple opera gloves and flaming red hair, just like the Who Framed Roger Rabbit femme fatale.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2023
The creepy clown featured flaming red hair and a red foam nose.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
For artists, the live entertainment industry has always been a bit of a high-wire act, but since the pandemic, it’s become more like juggling flaming torches on a unicycle, while covered in gasoline.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2023
During the Stonehaven Fireball Festival, about 40 locals make their way up and down High Street at midnight, swinging flaming balls in wire cages above their heads.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2023
According to local media reports, firefighters put out a flaming trailer in Marina del Rey in 2019.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
Thomas was rescued from his flaming car in Austin, Texas, by Minnesota Vikings player K.J. Osborn and three other good Samaritans.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 30 Sep. 2023
The sight of Chief Osceola riding Renegade to the 50-yard line and planting a flaming spear into the Doak Campbell Stadium turf is guaranteed to fire up the crowd in Tallahassee.
—Erick Smith, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
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Noun
As the flames died down and the smoke cleared, experts realized that an unusually large number of big sequoias had been killed by the blaze—27 on park land and 74 on national forest.
—WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023
In addition to pallets, sanitizer accumulated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was stored under the overpass and helped fuel the flames, according to sources familiar with the probe who were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation.
—Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The sky was orange as the 10+ ft flames advanced through the canyon.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023
Dozens of people were hospitalized after at least three of the vehicles burst into flames.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
The intense flames battered close to 100 columns supporting the highway, the governor added.
—Vik Jolly, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
Firefighters from several agencies worked to put out the flames, which burned up a brushy hillside toward homes, and firefighting helicopters could be seen dropping water scooped from nearby Calavera Lake.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Longtime loves and hot new flames are all dressed in perfect harmony for one of country music's biggest nights of the year.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
There are people wall to wall and flames shooting up from the blasters behind Uncle Waffles, a part of the set design.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2023
Verb
For guitarist Miles Dimitri Baker, on the other hand, multiple undertakings are a mere balancing act – an opportunity to juggle interests and obligations like flaming chainsaws.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 17 Nov. 2023
Explore See latest videos, charts and news In the photos, Carey sports a curve-hugging red dress, purple opera gloves and flaming red hair, just like the Who Framed Roger Rabbit femme fatale.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2023
The creepy clown featured flaming red hair and a red foam nose.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
For artists, the live entertainment industry has always been a bit of a high-wire act, but since the pandemic, it’s become more like juggling flaming torches on a unicycle, while covered in gasoline.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2023
During the Stonehaven Fireball Festival, about 40 locals make their way up and down High Street at midnight, swinging flaming balls in wire cages above their heads.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2023
According to local media reports, firefighters put out a flaming trailer in Marina del Rey in 2019.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023
Thomas was rescued from his flaming car in Austin, Texas, by Minnesota Vikings player K.J. Osborn and three other good Samaritans.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 30 Sep. 2023
The sight of Chief Osceola riding Renegade to the 50-yard line and planting a flaming spear into the Doak Campbell Stadium turf is guaranteed to fire up the crowd in Tallahassee.
—Erick Smith, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flame.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English flaume, flaumbe, from Anglo-French flame (from Latin flamma) & flambe, flamble, from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma flame; akin to Latin flagrare to burn — more at black entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of flame was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing flame
Dictionary Entries Near flame
Cite this Entry
“Flame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flame. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
flame
1 of 2 noun1
: the glowing gas that makes up part of a fire
2
: a state of burning brightly
the car burst into flame
a building in flames
3
: a condition or appearance suggesting a flame
4
: the person one is in love with : sweetheart
an old flame
5
: a hostile or rude electronic message
sent me a flame by e-mail
flame
2 of 2 verb
flamed; flaming
1
: to burn with a flame : blaze
2
: to burst or break out violently
flaming with anger
3
: to shine brightly
4
: to treat or affect by flame or fire
especially
: to sterilize by a flame
5
: to send a hostile or rude electronic message to or about
Medical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on flame
Nglish: Translation of flame for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of flame for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flame
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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