Word
ablaze
US/əˈbɫeɪz/
UK/ɐblˈeɪz/
Definition
adj. on fire or burning very brightly. You use this to describe a place that is full of light or heat because of a fire.
adj. on fire or burning brightly; full of light or heat. Often used figuratively to describe a place or situation that is very active or intense.
Examples
“The forest was ablaze with orange light.”
“The city was ablaze with fireworks as the crowd celebrated the national holiday.”
“The ancient manuscript was so delicate that even a small spark could have set it ablaze, leading to the total loss of the historical records.”
Examples
simple
“The forest was ablaze with orange light.”
contextual
“The city was ablaze with fireworks as the crowd celebrated the national holiday.”
complex
“The ancient manuscript was so delicate that even a small spark could have set it ablaze, leading to the total loss of the historical records.”
Real-World Examples
“These fires can be particularly scary if you live in the nearby areas or if you find yourself travelling through an area that has been ablaze or covered in dark smoke.” “Photograph: Enric Fontcuberta/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Nearly a century ago, Virginia Woolf had high society ablaze with Orlando , her time- and gender-bending romantic experiment.” Etymology
From a- (“on, in”) + blaze (“flame”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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