flameout

1 of 2

noun

flame·​out ˈflām-ˌau̇t 

1

: the unintentional cessation of operation of a jet airplane engine

2

: a sudden downfall, failure, or cessation

3

: a person whose successful career ends abruptly

flame out

2 of 2

verb

flamed out; flaming out; flames out

intransitive verb

: to fail spectacularly and especially prematurely

Synonyms

Noun

• comedown
• decline
• dégringolade
• demise
• descent
• down
• downfall
• fall
• Götterdämmerung

Verb

• bomb
• collapse
• crater
• fail
• flop
• flunk
• fold
• founder
• miss
• strike out
• tank
• wash out

Examples of flameout in a Sentence

Noun

Fans were disappointed by the team's flameout in the play-offs.

before her sudden, self-inflicted flameout, she was one of the state's brightest political stars

Verb

even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What's the gold price outlook for the rest of 2025? Fyre Festival 2 tickets go on sale after spectacular flameout in 2017 Denny's joins Waffle House in adding egg surcharge Starbucks' drink menu is changing. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025

There’s disappointment, to be sure, about the flameout on the road. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025

Verb

After the Pittsburgh Steelers flamed out against the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth sat together on a bench at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, sharing a moment of quiet reflection. —Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025

About five minutes later, however, one of Starship’s engines flamed out. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for flameout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout