# inflamed

/ɪnˈfɫeɪmd/ (US) · /ɪnflˈeɪmd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inflamed
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

red, swollen, and painful because of an infection or injury. You use this to describe a part of your body that feels hot and sore.

For teachers: characterised by inflammation, typically involving redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Often used predicatively after 'become' or 'look' to describe a physiological response to injury or infection.

## Examples

- My throat is inflamed and it hurts to swallow.
- The skin around the cut became red and inflamed, suggesting that a minor infection had set in.
- Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants can leave the respiratory passages permanently inflamed, leading to long-term breathing difficulties and decreased lung capacity.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'become', 'look', or 'feel'.

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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.