flame·out
ˈflām-ˌau̇t 
1
: the unintentional cessation of operation of a jet airplane engine
2
: a sudden downfall, failure, or cessation
a flameout that cost the network millions
3
: a person whose successful career ends abruptly
He was a spectacular failure …, a flameout.—
Douglas S. Looney and Carlton Stowers
Douglas S. Looney and Carlton Stowers
flamed out; flaming out; flames out
: to fail spectacularly and especially prematurely
a promising career that flamed out
Examples of flameout in a Sentence
Noun
Fans were disappointed by the team's flameout in the play-offs.
before her sudden, self-inflicted flameout, she was one of the state's brightest political stars
Verb
even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
To be clear, the flameout of Tron isn’t Leto’s burden alone.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield recently nominated Jason Levin, a onetime spokesperson for his office, to fill the seat after his previous pick, former Councilmember Dennis Zine, flamed out.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flameout
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Noun
Roasted by fans and media members alike as not worthy of CFP inclusion after the opening-round flameouts by Tulane and James Madison, the G5’s narrative improved markedly in the quarterfinals when Texas Tech and Alabama flamed out, as well.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
To be clear, the flameout of Tron isn’t Leto’s burden alone.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
By the time Bachmann’s 2012 presidential bid flamed out, Miller was already firmly ensconced with then-Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who shared his hard-line obsession with immigration, and Bannon, who provided a broader nationalist, populist scaffolding.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield recently nominated Jason Levin, a onetime spokesperson for his office, to fill the seat after his previous pick, former Councilmember Dennis Zine, flamed out.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flameout
Cite this Entry
“Flameout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flameout. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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