1
: the glowing gaseous part of a fire
2
a
: a state of blazing combustion
The car burst into flame.
The entire building was in flames. [= was on fire]
The cabin went up in flames. [= was destroyed by fire]
b
: a condition or appearance suggesting a flame or burning: such as
(1)
: burning zeal or passion
the flames of love
spread the flames of war
(2)
: a strong reddish-orange color
3
: brilliance, brightness
… the flame of the stars.—
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad4
: sweetheart sense 2
a former flame
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
—often used with up
Grease left heating in the pan flamed up suddenly.
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
What would Emily Post advise me to do? Flame the … scumbag right back?—John Seabrook
John Seabrook
flamer
noun
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
At the scene, officers found a vehicle that had hit a tree and was engulfed in flames.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2026
Emma Bussey , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Finish with a cremaet, Valencian coffee flamed with rum infused with lemon and cinnamon.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flame
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
In the past few decades, as wildfires have become larger, faster, and more severe because of climate change, the focus has been on the considerable damage caused by the flames themselves; the smoke has been thought to be relatively harmless.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
At the scene, officers found a vehicle that had hit a tree and was engulfed in flames.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
The luxury Swiss Alps nightclub where at least 40 people were killed and nearly 120 others were injured in a New Year’s Eve inferno, had previously released a promotional video advertising flaming champagne bottles, which authorities deemed the cause of the tragedy.
—Emma Bussey , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Finish with a cremaet, Valencian coffee flamed with rum infused with lemon and cinnamon.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flame
Cite this Entry
“Flame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flame. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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 email
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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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