Standard Lemma guide

rekindle

noun · verb · 6 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 K IH1 N D AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Synonym of reflash.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reflash

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To kindle again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To be kindled or ignited again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To revive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • After being abroad for a decade, when he came back he rekindled his obsession with cricket.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

arouse again

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • rekindle hopes
  • rekindle her love

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

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

6

verb

Meaning 6

kindle anew, as of a fire

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: kindle, enkindle, conflagrate, inflame

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English kindle English rekindle From re- + kindle.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: пламвам отново (plamvam otnovo) — To kindle once again
  • Chinese Mandarin: 重拾重新点燃 — To kindle once again
  • Czech: znovu rozdmýchat — To kindle once again
  • Czech: znovu roznítit — To kindle once again
  • Finnish: sytyttää uudestaan — To kindle once again
  • Finnish: saada uudelleen syttymään — To kindle once again
  • French: rallumer — To kindle once again
  • Galician: atizar — To kindle once again
  • German: wiederentfachen — To kindle once again
  • Greek: αναζωπυρώνω (anazopyróno) — To kindle once again
  • Latin: reconflō — To kindle once again
  • Macedonian: ожи́вее (ožívee) — To kindle once again
  • Macedonian: по́вторно за́пали (póvtorno zápali) — To kindle once again
  • Manx: aafoad — To kindle once again
  • Māori: tungutungu — To kindle once again
  • Portuguese: reacender — To kindle once again
  • Bulgarian: възраждам (vǎzraždam) — To revive
  • Czech: znovu oživit — To revive
  • French: raviver — To revive
  • German: wiederentfachen — To revive
  • Greek: αναζωπυρώνω (anazopyróno) — To revive
  • Macedonian: пре́роди (prérodi) — To revive
  • Macedonian: во́зроди (vózrodi) — To revive
  • Norman: aaghreesee — To revive