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

• revive
• resurrect
• renew

Examples of rekindle in a Sentence

the trip to Ireland rekindled her interest in learning Gaelic

Recent Examples on the Web

OpenA is one of several companies that has set its sights on the web browser—one of the oldest and most staid internet products—in the hopes of upending the status quo and potentially rekindling the famed browser wars of the early internet era. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025

Old friends might reappear to rekindle relationships. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025

Kent and Herbst were previously college sweethearts before rekindling their romance in spring 2024. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025

Elsewhere, embers were rekindled on a never-ending debate at keyboards across the internet and in group text message threads. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rekindle

• brindle
• dwindle
• grindal
• grindle
• kindle
• spindle
• swindle
• windle