ignite
verb
ig·nite ig-ˈnīt 
ignited; igniting
transitive verb
1
a
: to set afire
also : kindle
b
: to cause (a fuel) to burn
2
: to subject to fire or intense heat
especially : to render luminous by heat
3
a
: to heat up : excite
oppression that ignited the hatred of the people
b
: to set in motion : spark
ignite a debate
intransitive verb
1
: to catch fire
2
: to begin to glow
ignitability
ig-ˌnī-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun ignitable adjective
or less commonly ignitible
ig-ˈnī-tə-bəl
igniter noun
or less commonly ignitor
ig-ˈnī-tər
Synonyms
- burn
- enkindle
- fire
- inflame
- enflame
- kindle
- light
- torch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The fire was ignited by sparks. The paper ignited on contact with sparks. a material that ignites easily Three wins in a row ignited the team. His proposal is igniting opposition.
Recent Examples on the Web Lightning strikes and gusty winds during upcoming storms could ignite dry fuels and further fuel the blaze, Quintanilla said. 
Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Lightning strikes and gusty winds during upcoming storms could ignite dry fuels and further fuel the blaze, Quintanilla said. Summer Lin | Los Angeles Times, oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022 It is being sold alongside the felt-tip pen that the latter improvised with to ignite the engine and return to the orbiting Columbia command module. CNN, 19 July 2022 With that in mind, the San Antonio Fire Department, in partnership with USAA, demonstrated Monday how a dry Christmas tree can ignite and engulf a living room in flames in seconds. Taylor Pettaway, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Dec. 2021 Dayne Shor, a transfer from Alabama, hyperextended a knee on the second day of practice but is close to being back and will only help ignite competition in the trenches. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2022 The string of events has raised fears of a repeat of last year, when protests and violence in Jerusalem eventually boiled over, helping to ignite an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, and communal violence in Israel's mixed cities. Joseph Krauss, ajc, 22 Apr. 2022 Fox, Croft, Harris and Caserta were charged with conspiracy, accused by prosecutors of being angry over COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Democratic governor and seeking to ignite a civil war. CBS News, 8 Apr. 2022 The unrest spread to other parts of the city, including a nearby holy site sacred to Jews and Muslims, eventually helping to ignite the 11-day Gaza war. Joseph Krauss, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Dec. 2021 See More
Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Lightning strikes and gusty winds during upcoming storms could ignite dry fuels and further fuel the blaze, Quintanilla said. Summer Lin | Los Angeles Times, oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022 It is being sold alongside the felt-tip pen that the latter improvised with to ignite the engine and return to the orbiting Columbia command module. CNN, 19 July 2022 With that in mind, the San Antonio Fire Department, in partnership with USAA, demonstrated Monday how a dry Christmas tree can ignite and engulf a living room in flames in seconds. Taylor Pettaway, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Dec. 2021 Dayne Shor, a transfer from Alabama, hyperextended a knee on the second day of practice but is close to being back and will only help ignite competition in the trenches. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2022 The string of events has raised fears of a repeat of last year, when protests and violence in Jerusalem eventually boiled over, helping to ignite an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, and communal violence in Israel's mixed cities. Joseph Krauss, ajc, 22 Apr. 2022 Fox, Croft, Harris and Caserta were charged with conspiracy, accused by prosecutors of being angry over COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Democratic governor and seeking to ignite a civil war. CBS News, 8 Apr. 2022 The unrest spread to other parts of the city, including a nearby holy site sacred to Jews and Muslims, eventually helping to ignite the 11-day Gaza war. Joseph Krauss, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin ignitus, past participle of ignire to ignite, from ignis
First Known Use
1666, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Phrases Containing ignite
Kids Definition
ignite
verb
ig·nite ig-ˈnīt
ignited; igniting
1
: to set on fire : light
ignite newspaper
2
: to catch fire
But the entire Oklahoma Panhandle is so dry, everything is … ready to ignite. Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust
Karen Hesse, Out of the Dustignite
verb
as in to burn
to set (something) on fire tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- burn
- scorch
- inflame
- light
- fire
- enkindle
- torch
- enflame
- kindle
- illumine
- illuminate
- bake
- deflagrate
- cook
- reignite
- immolate
- rekindle
- incinerate
- broil
- char
- brighten
- stoke
- ash
- lighten
- frizzle
- kiln
- set off
- relight
- cremate
- radiate
- irradiate
- sear
- scathe
- scald
- bank
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extinguish
- quench
- douse
- smother
- choke
- suffocate
- snuff (out)
- put out
- dowse
- dim
- dull
- stamp (out)
- darken
- blacken
- obscure