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flame 1 of 2

noun

ˈflām How to pronounce flame (audio)
Definition of flamenext
as in sweetheart
a person with whom one is in love decided to look up an old flame while she was in town

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flame

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly guests gathered around as the Yule log flamed brightly in the inn's great stone fireplace

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2
as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently my anger flamed when the usher told my friend to shut up

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3
as in to burn
to shine with a bright harsh light the noonday sun flamed down on the desert travelers

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4
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light the actress's ruby necklace flamed dazzlingly under the bright lights

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flame
Noun
The victim’s white Dodge Ram 1500 pickup was fully engulfed in flames nearby. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026 Strong winds can then push flames through the surrounding vegetation, turning a roadside fire into a much larger blaze. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
Residential neighborhood burned into Tuesday night was calm, with little wind to flame the fire’s growth. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The lift had to be powerful enough to blast the massive orb into the sky, and the shell had to explode at just the right moment, without raining flaming debris. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flame
  1. sweetheart
  2. glow
  3. erupt
  4. burn
  5. gleam
  6. darling
  7. blaze
  8. explode
Noun
  • First incarcerated as a teenager, Big Ant has spent so much of his life locked up that his high school sweetheart, Lozita (a forceful Danielle Brooks), stays with him out of loyalty, not love.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Lois and Billy were childhood sweethearts and had been in a relationship since the age of 16.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of sweetheart
Verb
  • Why the dead girl’s computer glows with an unnatural brightness whenever the lights turn off?
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Along the way, we’ve been told to drink liters a day for energy, glowing skin, weight loss and even cancer prevention.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • Anak Krakatau has erupted since late ⁠on Friday, with volcanic ash detected at the airport early on Sunday, the ​ministry said in a statement.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • As Morris hit the ground and the 57,000-plus yellow-and-green glad fans inside Autzen Stadium erupted, the Broncos’ fate was sealed.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of erupt
Verb
  • Some of her other drawings show animals disorientated in burning forests.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The Isles bled scoring chances last year, which eventually weighed on Ilya Sorokin and burned the team down the stretch.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • In their place stands One World Trade Center, a gleaming glass tower that rises defiantly above a skyline that has been forever changed.
    — Thomas E. Franklin, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In This Article Fireclay sinks have been a kitchen staple for centuries, with their iconic, usually white, gleaming glaze that turns an otherwise utilitarian fixture into a striking visual highlight.
    — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • Training camp darling Dohnte Meyers contributed a slick catch-and-run, as did third-down back Samaje Perine.
    — Zak Keefer, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
  • In the ’90s and early 2000s, Sarah Jessica Parker cemented herself as a bona fide fashion darling, wearing looks from designers like Oscar de La Renta and Chanel.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of darling
Verb
  • Maybe the South doesn’t brag about its blazing fall colors (because that’s just bad manners), but Southern gardeners can enjoy autumn splendor every bit as lovely as the sugar maples in Vermont or the aspens in the Rockies.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026
  • The Dolphins were saving Willis’ blazing speed for occasions such as Sunday’s opener at Las Vegas.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of blaze
Verb
  • The match was instead a battle of strategy and focus, and a test of which player could execute her shots best under pressure, amid the excited buzz of a crowd waiting for reasons to explode.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The cost of living for middle class families for average Americans is exploding.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of explode

Phrases Containing flame

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flamboyantly
flame
flamed
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Cite this Entry

“Flame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flame. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flame

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flame

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