ignite

1 of 2

verb

ig·​nite ig-ˈnīt 

ignited; igniting

transitive verb

1

a

: to set afire

also : kindle

b

: to cause (a fuel) to burn

2

: to subject to fire or intense heat

especially : to render luminous by heat

3

a

: to heat up : excite

oppression that ignited the hatred of the people

b

: to set in motion : spark

ignite a debate

intransitive verb

1

: to catch fire

2

: to begin to glow

ignitability

ig-ˌnī-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

ignitable adjective

or less commonly ignitible

ig-ˈnī-tə-bəl 

igniter noun

or less commonly ignitor

ig-ˈnī-tər 

igniter

2 of 2

noun

ig·​nit·​er

variants or ignitor

-ītə(r) 

plural -s

: one that ignites: such as

a

: a charge usually of black gunpowder used to facilitate the ignition of a propelling charge and sometimes of a bursting charge

b

: a device for igniting fuel mixture (as in an internal-combustion engine, a jet engine, or a rocket engine)

c

: a separately energized electrode used for restriking the arc in an ignitron

Synonyms of ignite

Verb

• burn
• scorch
• light
• inflame
• fire

Examples of ignite in a Sentence

Verb

The fire was ignited by sparks.

The paper ignited on contact with sparks.

a material that ignites easily

Three wins in a row ignited the team.

His proposal is igniting opposition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The late Hayden Panettiere's fans are demanding a boycott of Neutrogena products, re-igniting a call that came after the actress made allegations the skin-care company wanted to fire her for speaking out about her postpartum depression. — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

The regulations seek to reduce the risk of fire following paths of vegetation and flammable materials to homes, and also to help keep homes from catching fire because embers ignited materials beside them. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Hanke predicts that dollarization will ignite the Venezuelan economy overnight. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Weeks later, their surrogate gave birth in Texas, igniting a fight over parental rights. — Gina Park, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin ignitus, past participle of ignire to ignite, from ignis

First Known Use

Verb

1666, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing ignite

• self-ignite

Rhymes for ignite

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

ignite

verb

ig·​nite ig-ˈnīt 

ignited; igniting

1

a

: to set on fire : light

b

: to cause (a fuel mixture) to burn

2

: to catch fire

3

: to set in motion : spark

ignite a debate

ignitable

-ˈnīt-ə-bəl

adjective

igniter noun

also ignitor

-ˈnīt-ər