bonfire
Americannoun
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bonfires
plural
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a large fire built in the open air, for warmth, entertainment, or celebration, to burn leaves, garbage, etc., or as a signal.
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any fire built in the open.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bonfire
1375–1425; late Middle English bone fire, i.e., a fire with bones for fuel
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A large crowd gathered to watch the bonfire, while police observed from the city walls overlooking the Bogside.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Winds and continued heat are still helping to fan the flames with some tourists reporting smelling acrid smoke like a "bonfire" far outside the affected areas.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
They now plan to hold a one minute silence for Mr Lyttle before the bonfire is lit at 21:00 BST and have asked attendees to join in with the tribute.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the bonfire had been set alight on Thursday evening.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
"We spent that night burning our codes and secret documents in a sheltered corner of the garden in the hope that the bonfire would not attract the attention of the North Korean military."
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Back home in Iowa, Marcus English said he’d probably be hosting bonfires or hitting up local pools in mid- to late August.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Branches were draped with colourful ribbons and ritual wreaths, while bonfires blazed high, ready for the military brotherhood to gather around them.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
“We’ve been burning our bonfires and our traditions for like forever.”
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
Elsewhere, some bonfires have caused controversy because they include the display of contentious images and the burning of sensitive symbols such as national flags.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Cold air blows in with the smell of burning leaves and dead things piled on to bonfires.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
