MEANING
1. To burn with an unsteady flame or shine suddenly and brightly.
2. To rise or become suddenly more intense, especially of emotion, pain, or conflict.
Use it for
Use for a brief blaze or sudden intensification.Give light, fire, or a response a sudden, unstable rise.
Words that belong together
- flare briefly
- flare into light
- flame flared up
- temper flared
- pain flared
- conflict flared
On the page
The candle flared when the cellar door opened.
His temper flared at the mention of the locked room.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- flare
- Past tense
- flared
- Past participle
- flared
- Present participle
- flaring
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- flare
- Present continuous
- am/is/are flaring
- Present perfect
- have/has flared
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been flaring
- Past
- flared
- Past continuous
- was/were flaring
- Past perfect
- had flared
- Past perfect continuous
- had been flaring
- Future
- will flare
- Future continuous
- will be flaring
- Future perfect
- will have flared
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been flaring
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
For fire or light, flare suggests a sudden, often temporary increase; it can also describe anger or pain becoming more intense. Sense 2: Figurative use commonly appears with “up” but does not require it.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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