Phrase guide

fire up

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To ignite.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Let's fire up the grill and have a barbecue.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inflame, kindle, aflame, alight, conflagrate, fire, fire up, ignite, light, light up, set ablaze, set afire, set aflame, set alight, set fire, set on fire, torch

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Of an engine or similar, to start.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The generator fired up shortly after the power failure began.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fire, start up

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To launch; to run.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, transitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • Fire up a text editor.
  • Fire up your computer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: activate, start up

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To excite; to infuse with energy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The band went out to fire up the crowd before the game.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ginger up, spice up, animate, arouse, awaken, beghast, leaven, bright, brighten, cheer, energize, enliven, enthuse, exalt, excite, fire up, ginger, inflame, invigorate, inspire, inspirit, jazz, kindle, liven, liven up, perk up, quicken, spice, stimulate, vitalise

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To grow irritated or angry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: anger

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

begin to smoke

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • After the meal, some of the diners lit up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: light up, light

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ignite, light

7

verb

Meaning 7

arouse or excite feelings and passions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor
  • The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world
  • Wake old feelings of hatred

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inflame, stir up, wake, ignite, heat

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, fire, raise, provoke

Narrower terms: ferment

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: entzünden — To ignite
  • German: starten — To ignite
  • Greek: ανάβω (anávo) — To ignite
  • Greek: αναφλέγω (anaflégo) — To ignite
  • Romanian: aprinde — To ignite
  • Spanish: prender — To ignite
  • Czech: nastartovat — Of an engine: to start
  • German: starten — Of an engine: to start
  • German: anwerfen — Of an engine: to start
  • Greek: εκκινώ (ekkinó) — Of an engine: to start
  • Greek: ξεκινώ (xekinó) — Of an engine: to start
  • Greek: ενεργοποιώ (energopoió) — Of an engine: to start
  • Greek: ανάβω (anávo) — Of an engine: to start
  • Italian: accendere — Of an engine: to start
  • Italian: avviare — Of an engine: to start
  • Romanian: porni — Of an engine: to start
  • Spanish: arrancar — Of an engine: to start
  • Spanish: encender — Of an engine: to start
  • German: starten — Computing: to launch
  • Greek: τρέχω (trécho) — Computing: to launch
  • Greek: εκτελώ (ekteló) — Computing: to launch
  • Italian: lanciare — Computing: to launch
  • Romanian: deschide — Computing: to launch
  • Romanian: porni — Computing: to launch
  • Spanish: arrancar — Computing: to launch
  • Spanish: iniciar — Computing: to launch
  • Spanish: bootear — Computing: to launch
  • Greek: πυροδοτώ (pyrodotó) — To excite
  • Greek: διεγείρω (diegeíro) — To excite