reignite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal/informal
Quick answer
What does “reignite” mean?
To set fire to something again.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To set fire to something again; to make something start burning again.
To cause something to start again, become active again, or regain strength, especially after a period of inactivity or decline. Often used metaphorically for emotions, conflicts, interest, or processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Both varieties use the term predominantly in its metaphorical sense.
Connotations
Slightly more common in American media/political discourse regarding conflicts or debates. In British English, often found in business contexts (reignite growth).
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects. Slight edge in American English according to corpus data.
Grammar
How to Use “reignite” in a Sentence
[reignite] + NP (transitive)[NP] + [reignite] (intransitive)[reignite] + [prep] + NP (reignite in/among/within)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reignite” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manager's speech helped reignite the team's enthusiasm.
- Fears of a trade war could reignite if tensions resurface.
- They used a spark to reignite the pilot light.
American English
- The scandal reignited the political debate.
- The coach's timeout reignited our offense.
- We managed to reignite the campfire after the rain.
adverb
British English
- The fire burned reignitedly for hours. (rare)
American English
- The debate flared up reignitedly. (rare)
adjective
British English
- The reignited controversy dominated the headlines.
- A reignited passion for the project was evident.
American English
- The reignited engine roared back to life.
- There was a sense of reignited purpose in the community.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The new CEO's strategy aims to reignite sales and investor confidence.
Academic
The discovery reignited scholarly debate on the origins of the species.
Everyday
Their holiday together helped reignite their relationship.
Technical
Engineers worked to reignite the plasma in the experimental reactor.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reignite”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reignite”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reignite”
- Misspelling as 'reignight'.
- Overusing the literal sense.
- Incorrect stress on first syllable (RE-ignite) instead of 're-ig-NITE'.
- Using with inappropriate objects (e.g., 'reignite the water').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its literal meaning relates to fire, but its metaphorical use (to restart an emotion, conflict, process) is far more common in modern English.
They are very close synonyms. 'Rekindle' is more often used for emotions/relationships (rekindle love), while 'reignite' can be used for broader contexts like conflicts, debates, and economic growth. 'Reignite' can imply a more sudden or forceful restart.
Stress the third syllable: ree-ig-NITE. The 'g' is pronounced as in 'go'.
Yes. Example: 'The conflict reignited after years of peace.' (Here, 'conflict' is the subject, not the object.)
To set fire to something again.
Reignite is usually formal/informal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “reignite the flame (of passion/conflict)”
- “reignite old embers”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-IGNITE: Think of 'ignite' (to start a fire) with 'RE-' (again) in front. So, to start a fire AGAIN, or metaphorically, to start something (like passion or a debate) again.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONS/INTEREST/ACTIVITY IS FIRE (that can be lit again).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'reignite' CORRECTLY in a metaphorical sense?