What does flare mean?
A flare is a sudden, brief burst of flame or intense light — most familiarly the pyrotechnic device used at sea or in the wilderness to signal distress, which burns brilliantly enough to be seen for miles. As a verb, to flare means to burst into sudden, often unsteady light, and the word extends naturally into figurative territory: tempers flare, symptoms flare, and conflict can flare up with little warning. Astronomers speak of solar flares, enormous eruptions of radiation on the sun's surface, while fashion borrowed the word for garments that widen outward toward the hem, as in flared trousers. Derived forms such as "flaring" and "flared" carry the image of outward, dramatic expansion. Versatile and vivid, flare captures both literal combustion and the human tendency toward sudden intensity, making it equally at home in emergency manuals, weather reports, and everyday conversation about emotions.
A sudden brief burst of bright flame or light, especially one produced by a signaling device.
"The lifeboat crew spotted the distress flare rising over the water."
A sudden outburst or intensification of something intangible, such as anger, pain, or violence.
"There was a brief flare of hope before the negotiations collapsed."
To burn with a sudden, bright, often unsteady flame; or to burst out suddenly, as emotion or conflict does.
"Tempers flared during the heated council meeting."
As a countable noun, the standard plural is "flares." It also names a style of trousers that widen below the knee, known simply as "flares."
"The climbers carried emergency flares in case they became stranded."
The word you reach for when things suddenly get brighter — whether it's the sun, a signal rocket, or your own temper.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flare
The origins of "flare" are somewhat obscure: it appears in English by the sixteenth century, first describing flames that burn with a wavering, spreading motion, and its exact root has been debated rather than firmly traced. From this literal sense it developed figurative uses, coming to describe any sudden bursting forth of light, emotion, or activity. Its derivative forms, including "flaring" and "flared," followed naturally, extending the idea of sudden brightness and outward spread into new domains.
Related word forms
How flare is actually used
"Flare" is common in both everyday and technical registers: it appears in casual talk about tempers and campfires as well as in aviation, maritime signaling, and astronomy. In medical contexts, a "flare" refers to a sudden worsening of chronic conditions such as arthritis, and the phrase "flare-up" is the standard way to describe any sudden escalation.
Easily confused with flare
"Flare" means a burst of flame, light, or emotion, while "flair" means a natural talent or instinctive aptitude for something.