ablaze

adjective or adverb

ə-ˈblāz 

1

: being on fire

2

: radiant with light or emotion

his face all ablaze with excitement

—Bram Stoker

Synonyms

• afire
• aflame
• alight [chiefly British]
• blazing
• burning
• combusting
• conflagrant
• fiery
• flaming
• ignited
• inflamed
• enflamed
• kindled
• lit
• lighted

Examples of ablaze in a Sentence

the entire block was ablaze by the time firefighters arrived

that night the ballroom, ablaze with light, looked very different from the curtained room it usually was by day

Recent Examples on the Web

By the time Rip and Lloyd dump Jamie’s body and set his car ablaze in a desolate field in Iowa, her cover story is validated, and warrants are issued against Jamie for aggravated assault and domestic violence. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024

Embers had sparked tiny flare-ups on the school grounds, setting palm trees ablaze. —Corina Knoll, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024

This story was updated to add new air quality map and information. MALIBU, Calif. — Since Monday night, a fire in Malibu, California, has set more than 3,000 acres ablaze and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. —Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

And make time for the sunrises and sunsets, which set the uncluttered horizon ablaze in mesmerizing shades of orange. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 1 + blaze entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ablaze

• set something afire/aflame/ablaze

Kids Definition

ablaze

adjective

ə-ˈblāz 

1

: being on fire

2

: radiant with light or bright color