ember: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2literary, poetic, everyday
Quick answer
What does “ember” mean?
A small piece of glowing coal or wood in a dying fire.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small piece of glowing coal or wood in a dying fire.
A vestige, trace, or lingering fragment of a past emotion, situation, or period; something that remains alive but is fading. Also used as a given name and in fantasy contexts (e.g., a dragon name).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of nostalgia and fading warmth.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties, with a slight preference in literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “ember” in a Sentence
The [fire/campfire/bonfire] burned down to embers.Only the [embers] of his passion remained.She watched the [embers] glow in the dark.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ember” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A (obsolete/rare). The verb 'to ember' is archaic.
American English
- N/A (obsolete/rare). The verb 'to ember' is archaic.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Ember' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A. 'Ember' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A. 'Ember' is not standardly used as an adjective.
American English
- N/A. 'Ember' is not standardly used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorical use possible, e.g., 'the embers of the former market boom'.
Academic
Used in historical/literary analysis, e.g., 'the embers of the revolution'.
Everyday
Primarily literal for describing a dying fire after camping or in a fireplace.
Technical
Used in firefighting/combustion science to describe a stage of fire decay.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ember”
- Using 'an ember' for a single, large burning log (incorrect).
- Confusing 'embers' with 'ashes' (ashes are grey and dead).
- Misspelling as 'ember' for the verb (to ember is not standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is common in both, but the literal sense is more frequent in everyday language (e.g., camping). The metaphorical sense is prevalent in writing and formal speech.
No, in modern English 'ember' is solely a noun. The archaic verb 'to ember' (to kindle) is obsolete and not used.
An 'ember' is still glowing and hot. A 'cinder' is often a partially burned-out coal or piece of wood that may or may not be glowing; it can be cooler and more ashy.
It can be both. Literally, it means to blow on embers to restart a fire. Metaphorically, it means to revive a fading feeling, memory, or situation.
A small piece of glowing coal or wood in a dying fire.
Ember is usually literary, poetic, everyday in register.
Ember: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɛmbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɛmbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fan the embers (to revive something)”
- “embers of hope/war/passion”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember DECEMBER: the year is dying like the embers of a fire.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONS/EVENTS ARE FIRE (e.g., 'the embers of their relationship').
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, 'the embers of rebellion' most likely means: