rekindle

verb

re·​kin·​dle ˌrē-ˈkin-dᵊl 

rekindled; rekindling

1

transitive : to kindle (something) again

rekindle a fire

On the way the torch went out, and we took shelter in a small and lonely Christian chapel to rekindle it.

—Robert Louis Stevenson

: to start or stir up (something) again

The couple appeared to rekindle their romance, exchanging loving messages promising to try to make the relationship work again …

—Sarah Ward

"… You get a chance to meet up with people and rekindle memories … "

—Paul O'Connell

Its election offered an example of how to rekindle interest in politics …

—Vrasidas Karalis

Her story is one of those great stories of love, commitment and perseverance that rekindle your hope for humanity …

—Kimberly Fletcher

2

intransitive : to begin to burn again : to flare up again

Firefighters were called back to the scene around 6 a.m. when the flames rekindled.

—Mike Hasch

Synonyms

• reanimate
• recharge
• regenerate
• rejuvenate
• renew
• resurrect
• resuscitate
• revitalize
• revive
• revivify
• rewake
• rewaken

Examples of rekindle in a Sentence

the trip to Ireland rekindled her interest in learning Gaelic

Recent Examples on the Web

All three seem to get along just fine, which makes the natural yearning for an old flame to rekindle all the more tantalizing. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2024

The two even briefly rekindled their romance in the 1970s, per Vanity Fair. —Makena Gera, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024

They soon got engaged, but called off their wedding in 2004, nearly two decades after which the pair would rekindle their relationship in 2021. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2024

Chain is designed to rekindle memories in a way that excites your now-sophisticated taste buds. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1