to set afire

Examples

• All

• Her mutilated body was then transported to the bedroom, where she was tied partially naked to the bed and set afire.

  Fiction book (2001)

• It was probably the second of these groups that did considerable damage to the Nevada, then proceeding down the South Channel, and also to the Shaw, Cassin, and Downes, all three of which were set afire.

  Academic text (1991)

• A man stabbed to death, house set afire.

  Hangover Square (1945)

• A baby doll is set afire.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Giving up on ramming, Silva next ordered that the wood in the new wall be set afire.

  Academic text (2002)

• The British Embassy and British Council offices had been attacked and set afire, as were the USIS U.S. Information Service center and my former residence.

  Blog text (5)

• It will devour the flesh and its harvests and set afire the foundations of the mountains.

  Blog text (12)

• One of the most striking of all those from Red-dominated countries was a Yugoslav bishop who had gasoline poured over him and then had been set afire.

  Blog text (29)

• More than 50 Kurdish citizens affiliated with HDA-PAR (Free Cause Party) were killed in the incidents that broke out upon Demirta's call, while several public offices were set afire.

  Academic text (2017)

• The old factory was set afire by arsonists, leaving nothing but ashes behind.

Synonyms

B

to burn

vsto set afire

∞ 1.0

To be on fire or damage something with heat

focuses specifically on the act of causing flames to start

S

to set on fire

vsto set afire

110 3.0

Make something start burning

is the plain phrasal form that denotes the same action

T

to torch

vsto set afire

76 6.5

To set fire to something on purpose

is neutral about intent and covers any cause of burning

I

to ignite

vsto set afire

66 4.0

To make something start burning

uses everyday phrasing rather than this technical focus

C

to combust

vsto set afire

8 7.4

To catch fire or make something burn

is the everyday way to describe causing burning

S

to set ablaze

vsto set afire

5 4.8

To make something start burning

describes the same causing action in a simpler expression

K

to kindle

vsto set afire

4 3.7

To make wood, paper, or other material start to burn

refers to the same starting act but without gentle tone

S

to set aflame

vsto set afire

1 5.1

To make something start burning

expresses that same initiating action in common language

S

to set alight

vsto set afire

• UK

1 4.2

To make something start burning

is a more basic phrasal way to say the same thing

I

to inflame

vsto set afire

1 5.7

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

keeps the literal causing sense without figurative emphasis

C

to conflagrate

vsto set afire

9.9

To set fire to something

is the common expression used in ordinary speech

E

to enkindle

vsto set afire

• Archaic

9.1

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

is the straightforward literal phrase without figurative coloring

Antonyms

E

to extinguish

23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

Q

to quench

16 4.2

To stop thirst by drinking or to put out a fire by cooling it

How Intense

to set aflame

1 5.1

to set afire

2 4.1

to set alight

• UK

1 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology