to kindle

Examples

• All

• At the time of the harvest, they builded altars... and kindled fires upon them.

  The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966)

• With a match and some kindling, he managed to kindle the flames in the fireplace quickly.

• "In a few minutes, I will kindle your fire with my own hands."

  Fiction book (2002)

• It should again kindle up the fire.

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• The next morning, he watched my father kindle the fire in the old cast iron stove and watched my mother fix breakfast.

  Fiction book (2002)

• I'll gather wood and kindling for the fire.

  His Only Son (2023)

• Lanterns hung unlit on posts set about the outer walls, waiting for some hand to kindle them.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Annoyed with everyone's inaction, Tolstoy told his guard captain, "Kindle the fire."

  Fiction book (2002)

• After gathering dry leaves and twigs, they will kindle a fire to keep warm during the night.

• They used newspaper to kindle the fire, ensuring it would start burning brightly.

Synonyms

B

to burn

vsto kindle

∞ 1.0

To be on fire or damage something with heat

is specifically about beginning a small fire rather than general burning

F

to fire

vsto kindle

175 2.2

To light and keep burning a stove or furnace

is about initiating burning in general, not equipment maintenance

S

to set on fire

vsto kindle

110 3.0

Make something start burning

is a milder, gentler way to make something begin to burn

T

to torch

vsto kindle

76 6.5

To set fire to something on purpose

is neutral and does not imply deliberate harm or crime

I

to ignite

vsto kindle

66 4.0

To make something start burning

is more informal and suggests a gentler beginning of burning

C

to combust

vsto kindle

8 7.4

To catch fire or make something burn

is about starting burning with a softer, less technical sense

S

to set ablaze

vsto kindle

5 4.8

To make something start burning

is more about starting a flame gently rather than producing large flames

S

to set afire

vsto kindle

2 4.1

Make something start to burn

is less forceful and often refers to starting a small fire

S

to set aflame

vsto kindle

1 5.1

To make something start burning

is the neutral action of making something begin to burn

S

to set alight

vsto kindle

• UK

1 4.2

To make something start burning

is more poetic or gentle when beginning a small fire

I

to inflame

vsto kindle

1 5.7

To make something start burning, for example paper or dry grass

is mainly literal and often implies a small or gentle start

C

to conflagrate

vsto kindle

9.9

To set fire to something

is more common everyday language and sounds less formal

E

to enkindle

vsto kindle

• Archaic

9.1

To make something start to burn, like a fire or a strong feeling

is the plain, literal action of beginning a small fire

Antonyms

E

to extinguish

23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

D

to douse

20 5.1

To stop a fire or light from burning

Compounds

K

kindle-coal

• Archaic

9.9

A type of coal used to start a fire

How Intense

to blaze

58 3.4

to kindle

4 3.7

to light

905 1.0

to spark

26 2.8

Surface Forms

Etymology