rekindle
B2formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
to revive or restart something that was previously active, especially an emotion, relationship, or interest
to cause something to become active, strong, or bright again; to relight a fire or flame
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used metaphorically for emotions, relationships, memories, or interests. Literal use for fire is less common but valid. Implies a previous state of activity that had diminished.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/formal connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both corpora, with a slight preference in written texts over casual speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
rekindle + NP (object)rekindle + NP + in + NP (e.g., rekindle hope in the team)be rekindled (passive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rekindle the flame”
- “rekindle old memories”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe reviving a project, partnership, or market interest.
Academic
Used in social sciences and humanities to discuss revived theories, debates, or cultural movements.
Everyday
Common in discussions about relationships, hobbies, or personal interests.
Technical
Rare; possible in engineering contexts referring to literally restarting a combustion process.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Their holiday in Cornwall helped to rekindle their love for each other.
- The documentary rekindled public interest in marine conservation.
- He hoped to rekindle the debate on constitutional reform.
American English
- The reunion rekindled their old friendship.
- She's trying to rekindle her passion for painting.
- The speech rekindled hope in the community.
adverb
British English
- N/A (not standard)
American English
- N/A (not standard)
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard)
American English
- N/A (not standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The warm fire was rekindled with more wood.
- The story rekindled happy memories.
- They managed to rekindle their friendship after many years.
- The success rekindled his interest in science.
- The peace talks have rekindled hopes for a lasting agreement.
- Reading her old diary rekindled a sense of nostalgia.
- The economic policies have rekindled inflationary pressures that were thought to be contained.
- Her critique rekindled the scholarly debate on post-colonial theory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'kindle' as starting a fire. 'Re-' means again. So, 'rekindle' is lighting the fire again.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONS/INTERESTS ARE FIRE (that can be reignited).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'разжечь снова' for metaphorical uses; 'возродить', 'оживить', 'пробудить вновь' are often better fits for emotions/interests.
- Do not confuse with 'rekindle relationship' and 'restore relationship' – 'rekindle' implies reviving feelings, not just fixing practical issues.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rekindle' for starting something brand new (incorrect: *'The meeting rekindled a completely new idea').
- Misspelling as 'rekindal' or 'rekindlle'.
- Using it with non-abstract objects where 'relight' or 'restart' is more appropriate (e.g., 'rekindle the engine').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'rekindle' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it's less common than metaphorical use. 'Relight' is often more natural for a literal fire.
'Rekindle' often implies a slower, emotional, or interest-based process that had faded, with a fire metaphor. 'Revive' is broader and can apply to people, practices, or objects, suggesting restoration to life or activity.
It is neutral to slightly formal. It's common in writing and careful speech, but can be used in everyday contexts about relationships or interests.
Yes, e.g., 'rekindle fears', 'rekindle conflict'. It simply means to revive, regardless of positive or negative nature.
Explore