rekindle

rekindle — verb

1. to make a positive feeling, interest, or relationship that existed in the past b

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make a positive feeling, interest, or relationship that existed in the past become strong and active once more

例句

A weekend trip to Venice helped Henrik and Ayesha rekindle their romance.

collocation: rekindle romance / relationship

Flipping through a dusty album of travel photos rekindled Evelyn's love for watercolour painting.

rekindle + love / interest / passion

同義詞
  • revive

    broader — can apply to anything inactive, not just emotions; rekindle specifically suggests emotion or relationship

  • renew

    more general and common; rekindle carries a stronger emotional warmth

  • reignite

    very close in meaning; reignite can also be literal (fire), while rekindle's literal sense is rarer

反義詞
  • extinguish

    opposite metaphor — to put out a fire or end a feeling completely

文法句型

rekindle + noun phrase

用法筆記

Subject is usually an experience, event, conversation, or memory. Object is typically a positive emotion or close bond (romance, friendship, love, passion, trust).

常見錯誤

❌The argument rekindled my anger.
✅The argument reignited my anger.
💡rekindle is almost always used with positive feelings or relationships, not negative ones.

2. to make a fire start burning again, or (of a fire) to start burning again after

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to make a fire start burning again, or (of a fire) to start burning again after having almost gone out

例句

Vinícius blew gently on the embers to rekindle the campfire.

transitive: rekindle + campfire / flames / fire

The dry wind caused the remaining coals to rekindle into flames.

intransitive: [fire / coals] rekindle

同義詞
  • relight

    more common in everyday speech; relight works for any flame (candle, match, fire)

  • reignite

    can imply a sudden burst of flame; slightly more dramatic in tone

反義詞
  • extinguish

    to put out a fire completely

  • douse

    to pour water on a fire to put it out

文法句型

rekindle + noun phrase (transitive)

[noun phrase] + rekindles (intransitive)

用法筆記

Can be used transitively (someone rekindles a fire) or intransitively (the fire rekindles). More common in literary or narrative writing than in everyday conversation, where relight or start again are more typical.

常見錯誤

❌I need to rekindle the candle.
✅I need to relight the candle.
💡rekindle is used for fires that have burned down to embers, not for candles or gas flames.