What does flare mean?
Word: Flare
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Flare means a sudden, bright flame or light. A flare is also a bright light shot into the sky to call for help. As a verb, to flare means to burn up brightly all at once.
Synonyms: flash
Sounds like: flair (a natural talent for doing something well, as in a flair for drawing)
How do you spell flare?
Syllables: flare
Tricky part: Flair, the word for a natural talent, sounds exactly the same, so children often write the wrong one. A flare is always about fire or light.
Watch out for: flar, flaire
Memory tip: A flare is a sudden flame, and the two words start the same way: fla. Think flame, flare.
Idioms and Phrases
- flare up: To suddenly become stronger or worse, like a fire, a pain or a temper. Example: "Rohan's temper flares up when he loses at chess."
Flare in a sentence
Example 1: The campfire gave a sudden flare when Papa added dry leaves.
Example 2: The fishermen fired a red flare to signal to the harbour.
Example 3: A match flares for a second before it settles into a small flame.
Fun Fact
Scientists use the word too: a solar flare is a sudden, huge burst of energy and light on the Sun.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) nightmare
b) prepare
c) flarre
d) compare
Show answer
c) flarre. Flare has only one r, like prepare, compare and nightmare.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word: flare
a) dusk
b) blaze
c) smoke
d) shadow
Show answer
b) blaze. A blaze is a bright burst of fire, just like a flare.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
At the fair, a sudden flaer of fireworks lit up the dark field.
a) sudden
b) field
c) fireworks
d) flaer
Show answer
d) flaer. The e of flare comes after the r, at the very end.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A flare is useful to a boat lost at sea because it ____.
a) shows the way to land
b) can be seen from far away
c) scares away sharks
d) keeps the boat warm
Show answer
b) can be seen from far away
2. In which sentence is flare used as a verb (a doing word)?
a) The flames flare when the wind blows.
b) A red flare lit up the sky.
c) The flare was very bright.
d) We saw a flare out at sea.
Show answer
a) The flames flare when the wind blows.
