flareup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (Common in news, medical, and conflict-related contexts)Neutral to Formal (Common in journalism, medical discourse, and formal reports)
Quick answer
What does “flareup” mean?
A sudden outbreak or intensification of something, typically something bad, like violence, disease, conflict, or emotion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden outbreak or intensification of something, typically something bad, like violence, disease, conflict, or emotion.
1. A sudden worsening or recurrence of a chronic medical condition (e.g., arthritis). 2. A brief, intense display of activity or publicity. 3. In astronomy, a sudden, brief brightening of a star. 4. In photography, unwanted light spreading in a lens.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling preference shows slight variation; British English slightly more likely to use the hyphenated form "flare-up" for the noun, while American English may use the single word "flareup" more readily, though both forms are accepted in both variants.
Connotations
Identical in both variants.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both variants, common in international news and medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “flareup” in a Sentence
[NOUN] There was a flareup of violence.[VERB PHRASE] The conflict could flare up at any moment.[ADJ + NOUN] She suffered a painful flareup.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flareup” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Her eczema tends to flare up in the winter months.
- Old rivalries flared up during the reunion.
American English
- His back pain flared up after moving the furniture.
- Protests could flare up again if demands aren't met.
adjective
British English
- She used a cream for flare-up prevention.
- It was a classic flare-up situation.
American English
- He's on medication for flareup control.
- The flareup potential is high.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could refer to a sudden problem in negotiations or a public relations crisis.
Academic
Used in medical, political science, and history papers to describe sudden events.
Everyday
Common for discussing health (allergies, skin conditions) or local disputes.
Technical
Used in medicine (rheumatology, dermatology), astronomy, and photography (lens flare).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flareup”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flareup”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flareup”
- Misspelling as 'flair-up' (flair = talent/style).
- Using it for a long, sustained event rather than a sudden, short one.
- Incorrect part-of-speech: using 'flareup' as a verb (the verb is the phrasal verb 'flare up').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
All are correct but used differently. 'Flareup' or 'flare-up' is the noun. 'Flare up' (two words) is the verb phrase.
Rarely. Its core meaning relates to sudden negative or problematic intensifications. A 'flareup of publicity' is neutral, but typically the word has a negative connotation.
They are often synonyms. 'Outbreak' often suggests the initial start of something (an outbreak of war), while 'flareup' strongly suggests a recurrence or sudden worsening of an existing, often smouldering, situation.
Yes, it is a standard, widely understood term in clinical and patient communication for the sudden worsening of symptoms in chronic conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis.
A sudden outbreak or intensification of something, typically something bad, like violence, disease, conflict, or emotion.
Flareup is usually neutral to formal (common in journalism, medical discourse, and formal reports) in register.
Flareup: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflɛər ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflɛr ˌʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Tensions flare up”
- “Tempers flare up”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a **flare** (a bright, sudden light or signal) that goes **up** suddenly. A flareup is a sudden, bright (intense) event.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFLICT/ILLNESS IS FIRE (It smoulders, then flares up, and may die down).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'flareup' LEAST likely to be used?