flare-up
noun
a sudden burst of fire or light
flare-up
Britishnoun
-
a sudden burst of fire or light
-
informal a sudden burst of emotion or violence
verb
-
to burst suddenly into fire or light
-
informal to burst into anger
flare up
Idioms
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:
Given this flare-up in fighting, reporters asked if there would be an end to this war.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
Meanwhile, left tackle Rashawn Slater, who missed all of last season after sustaining a knee injury in training camp, was sidelined for much of August because of a flare-up to that same knee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
Stocks fell and bond yields held at multi-decade highs as investors ramp up rate hike bets amid a fresh flare-up in Middle East tensions that has sparked another surge in oil prices.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
A co-ordinated international naval response together with private security on commercial ships successfully drove down the scourge and contained a flare-up in 2023 and 2024.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
The lawyer’s sally induced guffaws, a courtroom flare-up that Judge Tate’s dour gaze soon extinguished.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
California’s struggling wine industry says it expects to take another hit as trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada flare up again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
"At first glance, it may seem under control, but it can flare up again because it re-emerges, sometimes from great depths," explained regional government spokesperson Stephanie Ernoux.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
Katie described how Yann would "flare up" if he was in a room with any of his allergens.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
While the possibility remains that hostilities could flare up again in the Persian Gulf, Haefele is adamant that gradual de-escalation is ongoing, citing President President Trump’s assertion that a cease fire is still in effect.
From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026
Some streets away from the square, I see a blaze flare up.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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.
