flame·out
ˈflām-ˌau̇t 
1
: the unintentional cessation of operation of a jet airplane engine
2
: a sudden downfall, failure, or cessation
a flameout that cost the network millions
3
: a person whose successful career ends abruptly
He was a spectacular failure …, a flameout.—
Douglas S. Looney and Carlton Stowers
Douglas S. Looney and Carlton Stowers
flamed out; flaming out; flames out
: to fail spectacularly and especially prematurely
a promising career that flamed out
Examples of flameout in a Sentence
Noun
Fans were disappointed by the team's flameout in the play-offs.
before her sudden, self-inflicted flameout, she was one of the state's brightest political stars
Verb
even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
This spring marks the 30th anniversary of perhaps the most famous flameout golf has ever seen at the 1996 Masters.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Noah White, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Or the 2019 Lightning and 2023 Bruins, which both flamed out in all-time first-round upsets.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flameout
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Noun
But the ghosts of flameouts past are gathering, and the region is loaded with potholes.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
This spring marks the 30th anniversary of perhaps the most famous flameout golf has ever seen at the 1996 Masters.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
With a growing number of rookie quarterbacks struggling and flaming out in recent years, the Raiders, who have only had one quarterback start 10 or more games in consecutive seasons in the last two decades (Derek Carr), likely want to play Mendoza’s development safe.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Or the 2019 Lightning and 2023 Bruins, which both flamed out in all-time first-round upsets.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flameout
Cite this Entry
“Flameout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flameout. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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