flaming

American  

[fley-ming] / ˈfleɪ mɪŋ /

adjective

1. emitting flames; blazing; burning; fiery.

2. like a flame in brilliance, heat, or shape.

3. intensely ardent or passionate.

   flaming youth.

4. Informal. (used as an intensifier).

   What a flaming idiot!

5. Informal: Usually Disparaging and Offensive. (especially of a man) blatantly gay.

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flaming British  

/ ˈfleɪmɪŋ /

adjective

1. burning with or emitting flames

2. glowing brightly; brilliant

3. intense or ardent; vehement; passionate

   a flaming temper

4. informal (intensifier)

   you flaming idiot

5. an obsolete word for flagrant

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Other Word Forms

• flamingly adverb
• unflaming adjective

Etymology

Origin of flaming

First recorded in 1350–1400, flaming is from the Middle English word flammande; see flame , -ing ²

Example Sentences

Next best thing: Meteors flaming across the sky during the August 12-13 Perseid shower peak promise the brightest show in years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Air traffic control’s communications came alive with surprised pilots who saw the accident, some of whom took photos and shot videos of the flaming streaks in the sky:

From Salon • Jan. 12, 2026

Thousands of people have marched through the Meadows in Edinburgh waving flaming torches to officially kick off the city's world-famous Hogmanay celebrations.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

The film contains more than 1,000 digital fire FX shots, ranging from flaming arrows and flamethrowers to massive explosions and fire tornadoes.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

I took them down, folded them in tight rectangular squares, and brought them inside, where my grandmother, the ironing board, and two flaming irons waited for me.

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Related Words

• blazing
• fiery
• glowing
• red-hot