as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ignite
Authorities have opened an investigation into the bar’s managers and are examining whether champagne sparklers may have ignited the fire.
—
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Lucey Jean and Morgan Bieler each dialed up hat tricks for Hopkinton (2-4), igniting a 7-0 Tri-Valley League win over Ashland Co-op.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
In Brazil, the 2013 fire at Kiss nightclub caused by people setting off fireworks that ignited flammable soundproofing foam, killing more than 200 people, leading to fire safety reforms in that country as well.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors said the fire was likely caused by sparkling candles igniting the ceiling of its basement.
—Reuters, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Lucey Jean and Morgan Bieler each dialed up hat tricks for Hopkinton (2-4), igniting a 7-0 Tri-Valley League win over Ashland Co-op.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
In Brazil, the 2013 fire at Kiss nightclub caused by people setting off fireworks that ignited flammable soundproofing foam, killing more than 200 people, leading to fire safety reforms in that country as well.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors said the fire was likely caused by sparkling candles igniting the ceiling of its basement.
—Reuters, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignite
Verb
-
Walk out of a play’s shadows back into the clear light of day without a there to take with you, and even a burning cauldron will become little more than a brief candle.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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Veg/cm/61 Fire has been burning on private land.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The fire had engulfed McCarty, scorching 73% of his body, leaving him with scars that would last an entire lifetime to come.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Without the trees, Smith said, the street is a beacon for scorching heat.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The room replicating the crash is dimly lit, which Knarr said is because there was no moonlight coming from the sky to illuminate the sea.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Nov. 2025
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Everything is dark around us, but the collision itself is a source of energy and the flash of it lights us up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The special prosecutor’s team has accused Yoon and his military commanders of ordering a covert drone operation into the North to inflame tensions between the neighbors and justify his martial law decree.—
Reuters 2 hr ago,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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Some Senate Republicans are pressing to adjourn next week for the Veterans Day recess if talks stall, a move that could further inflame public anger as paychecks for federal workers again come due.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles into Israel in response and attacked the Middle East's largest American military base in Qatar.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The news comes a week after the school fired football head coach Brian Kelly and then former athletic director Scott Woodward a few days later.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ignite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignite. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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