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to flare in

to flare in

1 6.7
Become suddenly stronger or easier to notice after a quiet time
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : estallar
  • Walker looked at him sharply, anger and mistrust flaring in his dark eyes.
  • anger flared in
  • tensions flared in
  • flared in her eyes

Examples

  • "There was a brief silence before color flared in Jinx's cheeks.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Anger flared in Regan as pain darted through her body.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • "Why should Tony have all the fun?" Something flared in Grice's eyes.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Anger flared in Humphries' eyes.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • A stubborn ember of hope flared in Linna's mind.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • And separatist violence continued to flare in the restive Balochistan province.

    Blog text (26)
  • In Siler City, North Carolina, a small town of about 5,000 west of Raleigh, similar anti-immigrant sentiment flared in 2000.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Throughout the 1990s, language debates flared in Alabama over such issues as Spanish-language driver tests and homestead tax exemptions for non-English speakers.

    Academic text (2003)
  • "A heated argument caused tempers to flare in the crowded room."

  • "As soon as the music started, excitement flared in the audience."

Synonyms

to break out
vsto flare in
140 3.8

To start suddenly, often with something dangerous like a fire or disease

refers to sudden increases that follow a quieter or calmer time
to erupt
vsto flare in
123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

stresses suddenness that comes after a period of lower activity
to flare
vsto flare in
51 4.4

To become suddenly more intense, often about anger or violence

focuses on sudden increase that follows a calmer interval
to spike
vsto flare in
51 3.4

To rise suddenly and sharply

denotes sudden spikes that occur after periods of lower activity
to flare up
vsto flare in
23 4.7

To become suddenly stronger or worse, often for a short time

is used for sudden rises specifically following a quieter period
to burst forth
vsto flare in
5 5.4

Suddenly start to happen with a lot of energy

applies more to sudden emergence than specifically after calm
to burst out
vsto flare in
2 3.4

Start suddenly and appear or happen quickly

implies a return after calm rather than just an unexpected start
to flame up
vsto flare in
1 4.6

To suddenly start burning strongly or become much more intense

highlights sudden return to intensity after a prior lull

Antonyms

to calm down
  • Informal
594 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

47 4.8

Become less strong, as with pain, noise, or excitement

How Intense

to erupt
123 4.2
to flare up
23 4.7
to flare in
1 6.7
to intensify
110 4.0
to rise
904 1.0

Surface Forms

flare in infinitive
flared in past
flared in past participle
flaring in present participle
flares in third person singular

Morphology

flare + in

The verb 'flare' already conveys rapid intensification and the preposition 'in' merely localizes that change (e.g. 'in the dark'), so the combined meaning is directly derivable from the parts. This follows a standard verb+preposition compositional pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Flare in creates the image of a sudden bright burst (flare) appearing in a quiet place, like a single flame lighting up a dark room. So it now means 'to become suddenly stronger or more noticeable'.