Word
rekindle
Phoneticsrekin·dle
US/ɹiˈkɪndəɫ/
UK/ɹɪkˈɪndəl/
Definition
v. to start a fire again or to make a feeling or relationship strong and active once more.
v. to reignite a fire or to revive a dormant feeling, relationship, or interest. Often used figuratively to describe the restoration of emotional or social connections.
Examples
“They tried to rekindle their friendship after years apart.”
“The couple decided to go on a trip together to see if they could rekindle their romance.”
“The recent success of the local theater group has done much to rekindle the community's interest in the arts after a decade of decline.”
Examples
simple
“They tried to rekindle their friendship after years apart.”
contextual
“The couple decided to go on a trip together to see if they could rekindle their romance.”
complex
“The recent success of the local theater group has done much to rekindle the community's interest in the arts after a decade of decline.”
Real-World Examples
“So when Flowers moved back home and started revisiting his childhood haunts, his passion for country was rekindled.” “The Heavens to Betsy reunion has offered an opportunity to revisit the music as well as to rekindle their friendship.” Etymology
From re- + kindle.
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/rekindle