kindled; kindling
ˈkin(d)-liŋ 
ˈkin-dᵊl-iŋ
1
: to start (a fire) burning : light
using dry twigs to kindle a fire
3
: to cause to glow : illuminate
animation kindling his pale face—
A. J. Cronin
A. J. Cronin1
: to catch fire : begin to burn
waiting for the fire to kindle
2
a
: to flare up
… their mutual resentment again kindled …—Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon
b
: to become animated
no boy will fail to kindle to the struggles of his California youth—Ethna Sheehan
Ethna Sheehan3
: to become illuminated
light kindled in the liquor—Frances G. Patton
Frances G. Patton
kindled; kindling
: bear sense 3a
—used especially of a rabbit
: to bring forth young
—used especially of a rabbit
Synonyms
Examples of kindle in a Sentence
Verb (1)
worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-stricken nature preserve
Recent Examples on the WebRachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
The networks’ stockpiles of cash became kindling for realignment, for the growth of the Big Ten and SEC, the transformation of the Big Eight into the Big 12, and the demise of the Pac-12.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 26 June 2024
Their goal extends to kindling emotions, eliciting thoughts, and ensuring a lasting impression.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
This has kindled interest in pyrophilous fungi as burn scar pioneers that may be foundational to ecosystem recovery.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for kindle 
Verb
Most of those blazes kindled in grasslands but burned less than a quarter of an acre.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
The networks’ stockpiles of cash became kindling for realignment, for the growth of the Big Ten and SEC, the transformation of the Big Eight into the Big 12, and the demise of the Pac-12.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 26 June 2024
Their goal extends to kindling emotions, eliciting thoughts, and ensuring a lasting impression.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
This has kindled interest in pyrophilous fungi as burn scar pioneers that may be foundational to ecosystem recovery.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for kindle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kindle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near kindle
Cite this Entry
“Kindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kindle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
kindle
intransitive verb
kin·dle
ˈkin-dᵊl
kindled; kindling
: to bring forth young
—used chiefly of a rabbit
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