# flaming

/ˈfɫeɪmɪŋ/ (US) · /flˈeɪmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flaming
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. on fire

adjective · CEFR B2

burning with visible flames.

For teachers: undergoing combustion accompanied by visible flames.

- The firefighters worked quickly to put out the flaming building.
- The flaming wreckage of the aircraft was visible from several miles away, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the clear sky.

### 2. brightly coloured

adjective · CEFR B2

having a very bright colour like fire, such as red, orange, or yellow.

For teachers: possessing a brilliant or intense colour resembling that of a flame.

- The trees were covered in flaming red leaves during the autumn.
- She wore a flaming orange dress that made her stand out immediately in the crowded ballroom.

### 3. annoyed emphasis

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Dialect

you use this word to show you are very annoyed or angry about something.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to express irritation, anger, or frustration.

- I can't get this flaming computer to work properly.
- He spent the entire afternoon trying to fix that flaming leak in the bathroom, only to find the pipe was completely rusted through.

Usage: Always placed before the noun it modifies.

Teaching tip: This is a milder alternative to stronger swear words, but it still sounds quite frustrated and is mostly used in British or Australian English.

### 4. burning or shining

verb · CEFR B2

the -ing form of the verb 'flame', meaning to burn brightly or show strong emotion.

For teachers: the present participle of 'flame', denoting the act of burning with a bright light or bursting into strong emotion.

- The logs were flaming in the fireplace, keeping the cabin warm.
- His eyes were flaming with anger as he listened to the unfair accusations being levelled against his team.

### 5. online insults

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

sending angry or rude messages to someone on the internet.

For teachers: the act of posting or sending offensive, insulting, or hostile messages over the internet.

- The forum moderator had to stop the flaming between the two users.
- The discussion quickly degenerated into personal flaming, forcing the administrator to lock the thread and ban several participants.

## Examples

- The flaming logs kept the cabin warm all night.
- He sent a flaming email to the manager after his request for a holiday was denied for the third time.
- The horizon was a flaming orange as the sun dipped below the mountains, casting long shadows across the valley floor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.