kindle

1 of 2

verb (1)

kin·​dle ˈkin-dᵊl 

kindled; kindling ˈkin(d)-liŋ 

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 face

—A. 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 kindled …

—Edward Gibbon

b

: to become animated

no boy will fail to kindle to the struggles of his California youth

—Ethna Sheehan

3

: to become illuminated

light kindled in the liquor

—Frances G. Patton

kindler

ˈkin(d)-lər 

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

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• burn
• enkindle
• fire
• ignite
• inflame
• enflame
• light
• torch

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

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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

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 

kindled; kindling

: to bring forth young

—used chiefly of a rabbit