flaming

American  

[fley-ming] / ˈfleɪ mɪŋ /

adjective

1. emitting flames; blazing; burning; fiery.

2. like a flame in brilliance, heat, or shape.

3. intensely ardent or passionate.

   flaming youth.

4. Informal. (used as an intensifier).

   What a flaming idiot!

5. Informal: Usually Disparaging and Offensive. (especially of a man) blatantly gay.

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flaming British  

/ ˈfleɪmɪŋ /

adjective

1. burning with or emitting flames

2. glowing brightly; brilliant

3. intense or ardent; vehement; passionate

   a flaming temper

4. informal (intensifier)

   you flaming idiot

5. an obsolete word for flagrant

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Other Word Forms

• flamingly adverb
• unflaming adjective

Etymology

Origin of flaming

First recorded in 1350–1400, flaming is from the Middle English word flammande; see flame , -ing ²

Example Sentences

Next best thing: Meteors flaming across the sky during the August 12-13 Perseid shower peak promise the brightest show in years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The sky blacked by the smoke from flaming vehicles was visible from Saunders's suite in a luxury hotel along Puerto Vallarta's main strip.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

Some of her favourite moments include Beaker losing his eyeballs in a science experiment and Gonzo wearing flaming roller skates - to give a flavour of the chaos.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

Air traffic control’s communications came alive with surprised pilots who saw the accident, some of whom took photos and shot videos of the flaming streaks in the sky:

From Salon • Jan. 12, 2026

Part of a desk crashed to the ground twenty yards away, on fire, as more and more flaming debris fell from above.

From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers

Related Words

• blazing
• fiery
• glowing
• red-hot