What does flaring mean?
"Flaring" is the present participle of "flare," describing both a physical and a figurative action: burning or shining suddenly and brightly, or expanding outward abruptly. In literal use, a torch or gas stack may be flaring, producing an intense but unstable light. Figuratively, emotions or conflicts are said to be flaring when they intensify rapidly — "tempers flared" is a common idiom for rising anger. The word also has a spatial sense: garments such as skirts or trousers can be flaring if they widen toward the hem, a shape famously associated with 1970s fashion and modern "flare" cuts. Nostrils are likewise described as flaring when they widen under strain or anger. This dual capacity — to describe both light and shape — makes "flaring" a vivid and flexible word, equally at home in descriptions of fire, fury, and fabric. It carries a sense of drama and suddenness, suggesting something briefly intense rather than steadily sustained.
A flaring refers to a sudden burst of flame or light, or a gradual outward curve in a garment or structure.
"The flare from the burning well could be seen for miles."
More commonly referred to simply as a 'flare'; the noun form 'flaring' is rare outside specialized contexts.
To burn or shine with a sudden, unsteady, brilliant light.
"The candle flared once before going out."
Describing something that widens outward or burns brightly and unevenly.
"She wore a flaring skirt that swirled as she danced."
Rarely used; the plural form exists grammatically but is not common in general usage.
"The repeated flarings of the furnace lit the workshop in bursts."
From gas-stack flares visible for miles to tempers 'flaring' in an argument, English borrows the physics of fire to describe emotion — and it's been doing so since at least the 1500s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flaring
The word derives from the verb "flare," which appeared in English around the mid-sixteenth century, likely of imitative origin, suggesting the sound or sight of a sudden flame — though its exact source is uncertain. By the late sixteenth century it had developed the sense of spreading or widening outward, giving rise to both the fiery and the sartorial meanings still current today. Related words sharing the Latin root flagrare, meaning to burn, include "conflagration" and "flagrant," though "flare" itself appears to be a native English development rather than a direct borrowing.
Related word forms
How flaring is actually used
Most often encountered as a participle rather than a standalone adjective; when used adjectivally ('a flaring skirt'), it emphasizes shape or visual drama. Common in both literal (fire, light) and figurative (temper, conflict) registers without strong formality connotations.
Easily confused with flaring
Glaring means shining with a harsh, steady brightness or staring angrily, while flaring implies a sudden burst of flame or an abrupt outward spread.