Synonyms

ignite

American

[ig-nahyt] / ɪgˈnaɪt /

verb (used with object)

to set on fire; kindle.
Chemistry. to heat intensely; roast.

verb (used without object)

to take fire; begin to burn.

ignite British

/ ɪɡˈnaɪt /

verb

to catch fire or set fire to; burn or cause to burn
(tr) chem to heat strongly
(tr) to stimulate or provoke

the case has ignited a nationwide debate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See kindle ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of ignite

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin ignītus “set on fire,” past participle of ignīre “to set on fire,” from ign(is) “fire” + -īre, infinitive verb suffix

Explanation

Ignite is a verb that means to start heat or a flame. Trying to ignite a match inside a dark fireworks factory is a really bad idea — one that can get you blown sky high. The literal definition of ignite is to cause something to catch fire or burn. Dousing a house in gasoline and putting a lit match to the front door will surely cause the home to ignite. In its more figurative sense, ignite means to inspire intense feelings. A passionate kiss can ignite a fiery romance and a controversial speech can ignite fierce anger.

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Vocabulary lists containing ignite

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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:

ignite ignites ignited igniting

Planting native broadleaf trees creates cooler, shadier woodland that is less likely to ignite, while restoring rivers and wetlands helps hold water in the landscape, keeping surrounding land damp.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

But her talent for finding stories that resonate and ignite has increasingly drawn her into some of publishing’s most contentious debates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Heat from the vehicle caused the dry brush to ignite under the car, according to testimony from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Battalion Chief Matt Palade.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

A previous attempt at launch was abruptly scrubbed just as the booster began to ignite, in an automatic stoppage that occurred after some engines did not start.

From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026

He brought them to the water monster’s mouth, remembering how two nights ago he had blown on the sweetgrass to ignite it.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Shin may be trying to remove fuel before the room ignites on its own.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026

Known as a 'gentle giant', Raducanu says Richardson also has a fiery side that ignites the competitive spark in her.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

A spark ignites a fuel-air mix, pushing down the piston.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

“I hope people watch the show and it only further ignites their disgust for these things and their shock, because we should never be comfortable,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

Then he ignites the candle with the bright orange flame.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

In 2019, the Kincade fire in Sonoma County, which destroyed hundreds of homes, was ignited by an old, unused transmission line owned by PG&E.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

It was around 1:40 a.m. on a summer Saturday last month when Alcaraz’s cell ignited into an inferno.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Now she’s ignited a debate: Is commenting on people’s bodies harmful, or does silence normalize extreme thinness?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Similar packages then ignited in the UK and Poland, causing extensive damage.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Two small fires were ignited in the park, both of which were immediately put out.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

“The tinderbox looks increasingly close to igniting in full force.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026

Kim said Rinderknecht started the fire by igniting vegetation with the lighter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

In China, too, the "trend toward health-consciousness especially among the middle and upper-income classes" is igniting interest in Japanese foods, the Japan External Trade Organisation said in a recent report.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

Warsh has expressed a preference for the 1996 Fed approach, which allowed fast growth without igniting inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

Fire leapt from one tree to another, igniting the crowns of leaves.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

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