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
Swiss inflation fell in July despite a rebound in global energy prices following a flare-up of conflict in the Middle East, which has driven up inflation in other parts of Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Crude oil prices leapt more than four percent as the fresh Middle East flare-up revived fears over global supplies usually shipped through the pivotal Strait of Hormuz.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
As the smoke eases, firefighters then move into the forest on foot to try and contain the latest flare-up.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
The next flare-up came one evening in the sitting-room.
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
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
But Apple’s “go-slow” strategy comes in handy on days when investor concerns about AI overspending flare up, insulating the stock from downturns that hit the semiconductor space.
From MarketWatch ● 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
Officials in the Middle East believe there is a significant chance that war will flare up again—possibly with even greater intensity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
She watched the parchment twist, blacken, and flare up.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
