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

His case has ignited widespread outrage and demands for justice. — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026

Additional footage, distributed by Fox News Digital, of them in a confrontation with another fan at the game has ignited further outrage. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

Some of these lightning strikes can ignite new fires beyond the original fire perimeter, making firefighters’ jobs even harder. — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026

Compressed gas ejects the missile from its vertical launch cell before its main engine ignites above the ship. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 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