Burning — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈbər-niŋ/ burn·ing

Meaning & Definition of Burning

Burning (adjective)

  1. being on fire
  2. ardent, intense
  3. affecting with or as if with heat

Burning (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being on fire

    "a firefighter must be that rare soul who rushes into a burning house, not away from it"

    similar: ablaze, afire, aflame, alight (chiefly British), blazing, combusting, conflagrant, fiery, flaming, ignited, inflamed, kindled, lit
    related: aglow, flaring, flickering, glowing, live, smoldering, broiling, hot, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, sizzling, burned, charred, incinerated, scorched, seared, singed
    near: choked, damped, dead, doused, extinguished, quenched, smothered, snuffed (out), stamped (out), suffocated

  2. having a notably high temperature

    "a burning sauna seems like a welcome retreat after a day of shoveling snow"

    similar: ardent, boiling, broiling, fervent, fervid, fiery, hot, piping hot, red, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, sultry, superheated, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, white-hot
    related: blazing, glowing, igneous, molten, seething, sizzling, heated, overheated, reheated, warmed, snug, toasty, warm, warmish, feverish, flushed, inflamed, canicular, muggy, steamy, summerlike, summery, tropical
    opposite: algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, cold, freezing, frigid, frozen, glacial, ice-cold, iced, icy
    near: chill, chilly, coldish, cool, coolish, nippy, snappy, blizzardly, frosty, snowy, subfreezing, subzero, wintry, chilled, cooled, refrigerated, unheated, benumbed, numb, shivering

  3. having or expressing great depth of feeling

    "the burning enthusiasm of that candidate's campaign workers"

    similar: ardent, blazing, charged, demonstrative, emotional, fervent, fervid, feverish, fiery, flaming, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, intense, passional, passionate, perfervid, red-hot, religious, superheated, torrid, vehement, warm, warm-blooded, on fire
    related: gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, sugary, histrionic, melodramatic, enthusiastic, gung ho, keen, zealous, enamored, infatuated, obsessed, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, frenzied, orgiastic, overemotional, overexcited, overheated
    opposite: cold, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional
    near: detached, dry, impersonal, objective, reserved, undemonstrative

  4. needing immediate attention

    "once again the media ignored the burning issues and focused on fluff"

    similar: acute, clamant, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperative, imperious, importunate, instant, necessitous, pressing, urgent
    related: demanding, extreme, immediate, insistent, intense, overriding, crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death, serious, severe, vital, dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstable
    opposite: noncritical, nonurgent
    near: incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant, nonthreatening, safe, stable

Burning (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be on fire especially brightly

    "all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn"

    similar: blazing, combusting, flaming, glowing, going up in flames
    related: catching, enkindling, deflagrating, firing, igniting, kindling, flaring (up), lighting (up), flickering, guttering, wavering, baking, broiling, charring, cooking, melting, roasting, scorching, sweltering, smoldering, sparking, sputtering, beaming, brightening, radiating, beating (down), flashing, glaring, gleaming, glimmering, glinting, glistening, glittering, scintillating, shimmering, shining, sparkling, twinkling

  2. to set (something) on fire

    "it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink"

    similar: enkindling, firing, igniting, inflaming, kindling, lighting, torching
    related: immolating, deflagrating, charring, frizzling, scorching, baking, broiling, cooking, ashing, cremating, incinerating, kilning, setting off, brightening, illuminating, illumining, irradiating, lightening, radiating, scalding, scathing, searing, reigniting, rekindling, relighting, banking, stoking
    opposite: dousing, extinguishing, putting out, quenching, snuffing (out)
    near: choking, smothering, suffocating, stamping (out), blackening, darkening, dimming, dulling, obscuring

  3. to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger

    "he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work"

    similar: boiling, foaming, fuming, raging, rankling, seething, sizzling, steaming, storming, seeing red
    related: fulminating, ranting, raving, smoldering, bristling, flaring (up), inflaming, chafing, fretting, stewing, agitating, convulsing, roiling, shaking

  4. to shine with a bright harsh light

    "the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long"

    similar: beating, blazing, flaming, flaring, glaring
    related: beaming, glowing, radiating, flashing, glancing, gleaming, glimmering, glinting, glistening, glistering, glittering, scintillating, shimmering, sparkling, twinkling, bedazzling, blinding, dazing, dazzling

  5. to cause to believe what is untrue

    "he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now"

    similar: bamboozling, beguiling, bluffing, buffaloing, catching, conning, cozening, deceiving, deluding, duping, faking out, fooling, gaffing, gammoning, gulling, having, having on (chiefly British), hoaxing, hoodwinking, hornswoggling, humbugging, juggling, misguiding, misinforming, misleading, snookering, snowing, spoofing, stringing along, suckering, sucking in, taking in, tricking, doing a number on, leading one down the garden path, pulling one's leg, pulling the wool over one's eyes
    related: kidding, putting on, teasing, bleeding, cheating, chiseling, defrauding, diddling, euchring, fleecing, flimflamming, hustling, mulcting, rooking, shortchanging, skinning, squeezing, sticking, stinging, swindling
    opposite: undeceiving
    near: debunking, exposing, revealing, showing up, uncloaking, uncovering, unmasking, disclosing, divulging, telling, unveiling, disabusing, disenchanting, disillusioning

  6. to make complete use of

    "heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations"

    similar: absorbing, consuming, depleting, devouring, draining, drawing down, exhausting, expending, playing out, spending, using up, running out of
    related: abating, decreasing, de-escalating, diminishing, downsizing, dwindling, lessening, lowering, reducing, eating, using, bankrupting, cleaning (out), impoverishing, crippling, debilitating, disabling, enfeebling, sapping, undermining, weakening, drying up, emptying, blowing, dissipating, frittering (away), guzzling, lavishing, misspending, running through, squandering, throwing away, wasting
    opposite: renewing, replacing
    near: augmenting, enlarging, increasing, bolstering, enforcing, fortifying, reinforcing, strengthening, rebuilding, repairing, restoring, reviving, conserving, preserving, saving

Related Entry: Burn (verb)

Burn is a different word from Burning. The synonyms below are for burn, not for burning.

  1. to be on fire especially brightly

    "all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn"

    similar: blaze, combust, flame, glow, go up in flames
    related: catch, enkindle, deflagrate, fire, ignite, kindle, flare (up), light (up), flicker, gutter, waver, bake, broil, char, cook, melt, roast, scorch, swelter, smolder, spark, sputter, beam, brighten, radiate, beat (down), flash, glare, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, shine, sparkle, twinkle

  2. to set (something) on fire

    "it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink"

    similar: enkindle, fire, ignite, inflame, kindle, light, torch
    related: immolate, deflagrate, char, frizzle, scorch, bake, broil, cook, ash, cremate, incinerate, kiln, set off, brighten, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, lighten, radiate, scald, scathe, sear, reignite, rekindle, relight, bank, stoke
    opposite: douse, extinguish, put out, quench, snuff (out)
    near: choke, smother, suffocate, stamp (out), blacken, darken, dim, dull, obscure

  3. to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger

    "he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work"

    similar: boil, foam, fume, rage, rankle, seethe, sizzle, steam, storm, see red
    related: fulminate, rant, rave, smolder, bristle, flare (up), inflame, chafe, fret, stew, agitate, convulse, roil, shake

  4. to shine with a bright harsh light

    "the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long"

    similar: beat, blaze, flame, flare, glare
    related: beam, glow, radiate, flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle, bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle

  5. to cause to believe what is untrue

    "he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now"

    similar: bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, catch, con, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gammon, gull, have, have on (chiefly British), hoax, hoodwink, hornswoggle, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snooker, snow, spoof, string along, suck in, sucker, take in, trick, do a number on, lead one down the garden path, pull one's leg, pull the wool over one's eyes
    related: kid, put on, tease, bleed, cheat, chisel, defraud, diddle, euchre, fleece, flimflam, hustle, mulct, rook, shortchange, skin, squeeze, stick, sting, swindle
    opposite: undeceive
    near: debunk, expose, reveal, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask, disclose, divulge, tell, unveil, disabuse, disenchant, disillusion

  6. to make complete use of

    "heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations"

    similar: absorb, consume, deplete, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up, run out of
    related: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce, eat, use, bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish, cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken, dry up, empty, blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste
    opposite: renew, replace
    near: augment, enlarge, increase, bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, rebuild, repair, restore, revive, conserve, preserve, save

Related Entry: Burn (up) (verb)

Burn (up) is a different word from Burning. The synonyms below are for burn (up), not for burning.

  1. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "seeing people violate smoking bans really burns me up"

    similar: aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, irritate, itch, nark (British), nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex, get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on
    related: hassle, heckle, nag, inflame, provoke, rouse, badger, bait, bullyrag, devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil, agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry, affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage
    near: appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

Related Entry: Burning out (verb)

Burning out is a different word from Burning. The synonyms below are for burning out, not for burning.

  1. to use up all the physical energy of

    "working 12-hour days at that job just burned me out"

    similar: breaking, busting, doing in, doing up, draining, exhausting, fagging, fatiguing, frazzling, harassing, killing, knocking out, outwearing, tiring, tuckering (out), washing out, wearing, wearing out, wearying, wearing to a frazzle
    related: debilitating, enervating, enfeebling, sapping, wasting, weakening
    near: activating, energizing, invigorating, rejuvenating, strengthening, vitalizing, relaxing, resting, unwinding

Related Entry: Burning one's ears (phrase)

Burning one's ears is a different word from Burning. The synonyms below are for burning one's ears, not for burning.

  1. to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault

    "She burned his ears for not wearing a seatbelt."

    similar: admonishing, chiding, rebuking, reprimanding, reproaching, reproving, ticking off, getting after, getting on
    related: berating, castigating, chewing out, dressing down, flaying, haranguing, jawing, keelhauling, lambasting, lecturing, railing (at or against), rating, scolding, scoring, upbraiding, abusing, assailing, attacking, bad-mouthing, blaming, blasting, censuring, condemning, criticizing, crucifying, denouncing, dissing (slang), excoriating, faulting, knocking, lashing, panning, reprehending, slamming, belittling, deprecating, disparaging, minimizing, mocking, putting down, deriding, ridiculing, scoffing, scorning
    near: approving, endorsing, OK'ing, sanctioning, applauding, extolling, hailing, lauding, praising, saluting, touting

Related Entry: Burn out (verb)

Burn out is a different word from Burning. The synonyms below are for burn out, not for burning.

  1. to use up all the physical energy of

    "working 12-hour days at that job just burned me out"

    similar: break, bust, do in, do up, drain, exhaust, fag, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary, wear to a frazzle
    related: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken
    near: activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize, relax, rest, unwind

Related Entry: Burn one's ears (phrase)

Burn one's ears is a different word from Burning. The synonyms below are for burn one's ears, not for burning.

  1. to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault

    "She burned his ears for not wearing a seatbelt."

    similar: admonish, chide, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, tick off, get after, get on
    related: berate, castigate, chew out, dress down, flay, harangue, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste, lecture, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, upbraid, abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (slang), excoriate, fault, knock, lash, pan, reprehend, slam, belittle, deprecate, disparage, minimize, mock, put down, deride, ridicule, scoff, scorn
    near: approve, endorse, OK, sanction, applaud, extol, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Burning

The most common words with a similar meaning to Burning:

Chiefly British: alight, having on
ablaze, afire, aflame, blazing, combusting, conflagrant, fiery, flaming, ignited, inflamed, kindled, lit, ardent, boiling, broiling, fervent, fervid, hot, piping hot, red, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, sultry, superheated, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, white-hot, charged, demonstrative, emotional, feverish, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, intense

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Burning

Words with the opposite meaning of Burning:

algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, cold, freezing, frigid, frozen, glacial, ice-cold, iced, icy, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional, noncritical, nonurgent, dousing, extinguishing, putting out, quenching, snuffing (out), undeceiving, renewing, replacing

Related Words for Burning

aglow, flickering, live, smoldering, burned, charred, incinerated, scorched, seared, singed, igneous, molten, heated, overheated, reheated, warmed, snug, toasty, warmish, flushed, canicular, muggy, steamy, summerlike, summery, tropical, gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish

Near Antonyms of Burning

choked, damped, dead, doused, extinguished, quenched, smothered, snuffed (out), stamped (out), suffocated, chill, chilly, coldish, coolish, nippy, snappy, blizzardly, frosty, snowy, subfreezing, subzero, wintry, chilled, cooled, refrigerated, unheated, benumbed, numb, shivering, detached

Word Forms of Burning

Derived words: burningly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Burning

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Burning

burning bush, burning ghat, burning hot, ears are burning, fat-burning

Frequently Asked Questions about Burning

What does "Burning" mean?

"Burning" means being on fire. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: being on fire. It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Burning"?

Other words for "Burning" include ablaze, afire, aflame, alight, blazing, combusting, conflagrant and fiery. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Burning" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Burning"?

There are 317 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Burning". Common alternatives include ablaze, afire, aflame, alight, blazing, combusting, conflagrant, fiery, flaming and ignited.

What is the opposite of "Burning"?

Antonyms of "Burning" include algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, cold, freezing, frigid and frozen. Near antonyms include choked, damped, dead and doused.

How do you use "Burning" in a sentence?

Examples of "Burning" in a sentence: "a firefighter must be that rare soul who rushes into a burning house, not away from it"; "a burning sauna seems like a welcome retreat after a day of shoveling snow"; "the burning enthusiasm of that candidate's campaign workers".

Is "Burning" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Burning" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Burning"?

"Burning" is pronounced /ˈbər-niŋ/ and divided into syllables as burn·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Burning"?

First known use: before 12th century.