1
: the glowing gaseous part of a fire
2
a
: a state of blazing combustion
The car burst into flame.
The entire building was in flames. [= was on fire]
The cabin went up in flames. [= was destroyed by fire]
b
: a condition or appearance suggesting a flame or burning: such as
(1)
: burning zeal or passion
the flames of love
spread the flames of war
(2)
: a strong reddish-orange color
3
: brilliance, brightness
… the flame of the stars.—
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad4
: sweetheart sense 2
a former flame
5
: the memory, reputation, or beliefs of a deceased person
6
: an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message
flamed; flaming
1
: to burn with a flame : blaze
—often used with up
Grease left heating in the pan flamed up suddenly.
2
a
: to burst or break out violently or passionately
flaming with indignation
b
: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message
3
: to shine brightly : glow
color flaming up in her cheeks
1
: to send or convey by means of flame
flame a message by signal fires
2
3
: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message to or about
What would Emily Post advise me to do? Flame the … scumbag right back?—John Seabrook
John Seabrook
flamer
noun
variants
or less commonly enflame
inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming
1
a
: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling
especially
: to make angry
His speech inflamed the mob.
b
: to make more active, heated, or violent : intensify
inflame the imagination
insults serving only to inflame the feud
2
: to set on fire : kindle
3
: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement
a face inflamed with passion
4
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
1
: to burst into flame
2
: to become excited or angered
3
: to become affected with inflammation
inflamer
noun
Examples of flame in a Sentence
Noun
the flame of a candle
We built a fire and roasted marshmallows over the flames.
They tried to put out the fire, but the flames grew higher.
The engine burst into flame.
Verb (1)
A fire flamed in the oven.
The sun flamed through the clouds.
color flaming in her cheeks
Verb (2)
His angry speech inflamed the mob.
ideas that inflame the imagination
His comments have inflamed an already tense situation.
inflaming the passions of the mob
a chemical that can inflame the skin
Recent Examples on the Web
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
First responders and others on the highway sprang into action, and footage shared on social media shows the plane in flames while authorities and bystanders try to break a window to the cockpit.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Tableside preparations spread across the land, from prime-rib carts to flaming desserts.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
After exercise, your muscles become inflamed.
—Kirstyn Hill, Health, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flame
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Within the hour, all firefighters were called off the roof and out of the building because of the danger posed by the intense flames and the ammonia leak.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
First responders and others on the highway sprang into action, and footage shared on social media shows the plane in flames while authorities and bystanders try to break a window to the cockpit.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Verb
When the challenge called for the teams to light a flaming arrow and set a nearby target aflame with a direct hit, Pharaoh lit the fire with ease.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Tableside preparations spread across the land, from prime-rib carts to flaming desserts.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Verb
The rationale was that any war Israel fought would inflame popular anti-Israeli sentiment in the Arab and Muslim world, scuttling the Abraham Accords as Arab governments would withdraw out of fear of backlash.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
After exercise, your muscles become inflamed.
—Kirstyn Hill, Health, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flame
Cite this Entry
“Flame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flame. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flame
1 of 2 noun1
: the glowing gas that makes up part of a fire
2
: a state of burning brightly
the car burst into flame
a building in flames
3
: a condition or appearance suggesting a flame
4
: the person one is in love with : sweetheart
an old flame
5
: a hostile or rude electronic message
sent me a flame by email
flame
2 of 2 verb
flamed; flaming
1
: to burn with a flame : blaze
2
: to burst or break out violently
flaming with anger
3
: to shine brightly
4
: to treat or affect by flame or fire
especially
: to sterilize by a flame
5
: to send a hostile or rude electronic message to or about
Medical Definition
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
