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:
"It's a huge area and there could be a flare-up again at any moment," deputy fire department spokesman Yiannis Artopios had earlier told state TV ERT.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
Disputes over control of the strait has been at the center of the recent flare-up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Maëlys said her friends own big water tanks, which they then use to try to put out fires that flare-up to prevent them from spreading.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Crude prices soared on the flare-up, with Brent breaking back above $100 a barrel last week for the first time since May.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
When I’m nervous or sad I also fall prey to the awful itch from filaires, tiny parasites that crawl into your pores and cause a flare-up every so often.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Left tackle Rashawn Slater is dealing with a flare up of his surgically repaired knee and missed practices this week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 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
As the flowers flare up, a burst of blue flame envelops the rose and devours it.
From "Mockingjay" 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.
