flare
verb (used without object)
to burn with an unsteady, swaying flame, as a torch or candle in the wind.
had flared
-
past perfectof flare.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Turkey borders Iran, and hostilities between Washington and Tehran had flared up again at the time.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
A disc problem had flared, so she got a steroid injection to numb the pain, but the needle missed the spot and she needed follow-up treatment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2024
That fire had flared up north of Spokane, near the town of Elk, the same day as the Gray fire.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 12, 2023
He settled a border dispute that had flared into a short war between the Soviet Union and China in 1969, and he eased visa restrictions that allowed for a trade boom across their border.
From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2022
My heat rash had flared in July and hadn’t subsided.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
