flareup

American

[flair-uhp] / ˈflɛərˌʌp /

noun

a sudden flaring up of flame or light.
a sudden outburst or intensification, as of anger or tensions.
a sudden outbreak of violence, disease, or any other condition thought to be quelled, checked, or inactive.

Etymology

Origin of flareup

First recorded in 1830–40; noun use of verb phrase flare up

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.

He faced harsh weather conditions, closed footpaths, severely-blistered feet, and a gout flareup which resulted in a trip to the emergency department.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2025

Despite a recent flareup in trade frictions, most analysts expect to see a de-escalation in tensions and some form of truce, which would give markets a big boost.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Around the same time, Lahaina Bypass was closed after “an apparent flareup of the Lahaina fire,” Maui County officials said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2023

Disneyland in Shanghai closed Monday as the populous Chinese city faced a flareup of the coronavirus as part of a broader surge that is taxing the central communist government’s zero-COVID policy.

From Washington Times • Mar. 21, 2022

It bloomed best, most sublimely, in the middle of an emotional flareup of just this kind.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023