fume

noun

\ˈfyüm

Definition of fume

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a smoke, vapor, or gas especially when irritating or offensive engine exhaust fumes

b : an often noxious suspension of particles in a gas (such as air)

2 : something (such as an emotion) that impairs one's reasoning sometimes his head gets a little hot with the fumes of patriotism— Matthew Arnold

3 : a state of excited irritation or anger —usually used in the phrase in a fume

on fumes

: with little of the original strength or energy remaining tired ballplayers running on fumes

fume

verb

fumed; fuming

Definition of fume (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to expose to or treat with fumes

2 : to give off in fumes fuming thick black smoke

3 : to utter while in a state of excited irritation or anger

intransitive verb

1a : to emit fumes

b : to be in a state of excited irritation or anger fretted and fumed over the delay

2 : to rise in or as if in fumes

Other Words from fume Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about fume

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Synonyms for fume

Synonyms: Verb

bristle, rage, storm

Examples of fume in a Sentence

Verb

She's still fuming about not being invited to the party. We sat there waiting for him, fuming with anger at the delay. “They made these changes without even asking our opinion,” one employee fumed. The volcano was fuming thick black smoke.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The campaigns for Democrat Delaine Eastin, former state schools chief, and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen, are both running on fumes. — John Wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle, "John Cox, CA’s top GOP candidate for governor, is hard up for campaign cash," 25 May 2018 The Smallwares revival spells the end for Chalino, a restaurant that has been running on fumes since last fall. — Michael Russell, OregonLive.com, "Two years after closing, one of Portland's most exciting restaurants will return," 11 May 2018 By 2015, when the crown reached bin Salman’s father, the Saudi oil economy was running on fumes. — Karl Vick, Time, "The Saudi Crown Prince Thinks He Can Transform the Middle East. Should We Believe Him?," 5 Apr. 2018 Lyon stepped into an emergency at Madison Square Garden and rescued a sloppy game there, extending an unbeaten streak that was running on fumes. — Sam Donnellon, Philly.com, "With Flyers' season slipping away, Dave Hakstol should try Alex Lyon | Sam Donnellon," 16 Mar. 2018 Now, with the studio running on fumes, a bankruptcy filing appears imminent, said people with knowledge of its financial situation. — Jonathan Randles, WSJ, "Weinstein Co. Acquisition by Investor Group Is Called Off," 6 Mar. 2018 And yet the Tigers have lost their last two games and seem to be running on fumes without leading post player Anfernee McLemore, whose season ended with a freakish ankle injury two weekends ago. — AL.com, "Alabama, Auburn both have a lot on the line this weekend," 5 Feb. 2018 As reported in the Chinese business outlet Caixin, the Civil Aviation Administration said the co-pilot had tried to turn off a circulation fan so that the fumes from his vaping would not go into the cabin. — David Meyer, Fortune, "How a Vaping Co-Pilot Allegedly Caused an Oxygen Emergency on His Plane," 13 July 2018 Vigilante, who co-owned the station with his brother, Nick, was in the vault when fumes from the tank ignited. — Vinny Vella, Philly.com, "Bensalem PD: Crews recover body of gas-station owner killed in explosion," 13 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Despite vehement denials from Colangelo, the team’s ownership was reportedly fuming over the incident and are embarrassed. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, "Philadelphia 76ers owners meet over executive's 'burnergate' controversy: report," 6 June 2018 By that time, Icahn and Deason were already fuming. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, "Paper Jam! How Carl Icahn And a Billionaire Partner Blocked Xerox’s Merger with Fujifilm," 21 May 2018 Many on the social media site fumed at Kanye for professing his love of Trump. — Fernando Ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "Twitter reacts to Kanye calling Trump 'my brother'," 25 Apr. 2018 Los Angeles Times Tariff talk: California's vintners and growers fumed at the growing prospect that wine, nuts, fruit and other Golden State exports would become collateral damage in a trade battle between President Trump and China. — Benjamin Oreskes, latimes.com, "Essential California: How the state could remake L.A.'s neighborhoods," 26 Mar. 2018 Shoppers and consumer advocates are fuming at major retailers such as Victoria's Secret, JCPenney, and Best Buy for keeping a secret database on customers that determines who should be banned from making returns. — Ben Popken, NBC News, "Stores use secret shopper score to track and decline returns," 13 Mar. 2018 Aussie bank execs are still fuming following a Treasury briefing over the new bank tax. — Randi Larson, Bloomberg.com, "Everything You Need to Know This Morning From Daybreak (Podcast)," 11 May 2017 The spending spree has left the police union outraged, taxpayers fuming and council members questioning its legality. — Dan Klepal, ajc, "Ex-mayor Kasim Reed doles out $500k in bonuses, gifts on way out," 24 Apr. 2018 Many Latinos, lawmakers, and immigrant rights activists fuming over the idea that a charity whose image was one of standing up for Latino and underprivileged children is actively involved in the housing of minors. — Elizabeth Llorente | Fox News, Fox News, "Latino non-profit faces questions over big money, involvement in immigrant kids' housing," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fume.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.