1
: a sudden outburst or intensification
a flare-up of hostilities
2
: a sudden bursting (as of a smoldering fire) into flame or light
a danger of flare-ups
3
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
Examples of flare-up in a Sentence
took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma
there's no need for an angry flare-up, as we'll take care of the problem immediately
Recent Examples on the Web
Early interventions can prevent costly flare-ups and avoid emergency visits, which average between $11,000 and $14,000 per hospital stay.
—
Kent Dicks, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
According to the organization, heat and fatigue can exacerbate symptoms or cause a temporary flare-up.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Even simple activities such as running through a field can lead to serious asthma flare-ups.
—Rhonda Conner-Warren, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
The largest, originating in Guinea in 2014, killed over 11,000 people, and another in 2018 killed a further 2,000; other flare-ups have died away more quickly.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare-up
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Kent Dicks, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
According to the organization, heat and fatigue can exacerbate symptoms or cause a temporary flare-up.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Even simple activities such as running through a field can lead to serious asthma flare-ups.
—Rhonda Conner-Warren, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
The largest, originating in Guinea in 2014, killed over 11,000 people, and another in 2018 killed a further 2,000; other flare-ups have died away more quickly.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare-up
Cite this Entry
“Flare-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flare-up. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
flare-up
noun
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
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