kindle

1 of 2

verb (1)

kin·​dle ˈkin-dᵊl How to pronounce kindle (audio)
kindled; kindling ˈkin(d)-liŋ How to pronounce kindle (audio)
ˈkin-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to start (a fire) burning : light
using dry twigs to kindle a fire
2
a
: to stir up : arouse
kindle a child's interest in art
b
: to bring into being : start
3
: to cause to glow : illuminate
animation kindling his pale faceA. J. Cronin

intransitive verb

1
: to catch fire : begin to burn
waiting for the fire to kindle
2
a
: to flare up
… their mutual resentment again kindledEdward Gibbon
b
: to become animated
no boy will fail to kindle to the struggles of his California youthEthna Sheehan
3
: to become illuminated
light kindled in the liquorFrances G. Patton
kindler
ˈkin(d)-lər How to pronounce kindle (audio)
ˈkin-dᵊl-ər
noun

kindle

2 of 2

verb (2)

kindled; kindling

transitive verb

: bear sense 3a
used especially of a rabbit

intransitive verb

: to bring forth young
used especially of a rabbit

Examples of kindle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Putin’s political resilience may come as a surprise to many who assumed that Western sanctions, alongside the human toll of war, would kindle societal opposition to the war and fragment Russian elites, eventually opening the door to Putin’s ouster. Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2023 For the jet-setter Serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 187th airborne infantry kindled his taste for tea, says Brandon Friedman. Sarah Rose, wsj.com, 2 Nov. 2023 To critics, the studies became a byword for reckless experiments that risked kindling horrific outbreaks for only modest scientific knowledge. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2023 Raimondo said that in the year since Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, sweeping legislation to kindle the country’s nascent semiconductor industry, the Department of Commerce has hired 150 people, with a large portion coming from private industry. Byleo Schwartz, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2023 Over the last several months, the Midnights star and Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce have kindled an apparent romance that’s taken the entertainment world by storm. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2023 That meal kindled a lifelong devotion to kala namak. Mayukh Sen, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023 Without the political pressure kindled by protests, first in George Floyd’s name and then in McClain’s, the case would have been left behind in 2019. Audra D. S. Burch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2023 Conversation, romance, and collaborations are often kindled around cocktails. Ian Malone, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kindle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, probably modification of Old Norse kynda; akin to Old High German cuntesal fire

Verb (2)

Middle English, from kindle young animal, probably from kinde, noun, kind

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of kindle was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near kindle

Cite this Entry

“Kindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kindle. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

kindle

verb
kin·​dle
ˈkin-dᵊl
kindled; kindling
-(d)liŋ,
-dᵊl-iŋ
1
: to set on fire or take fire : light
2
: to stir up : excite
trying to kindle their interest

Medical Definition

kindle

intransitive verb
kin·​dle ˈkin-dᵊl How to pronounce kindle (audio)
kindled; kindling
: to bring forth young
used chiefly of a rabbit

More from Merriam-Webster on kindle

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