set alight

verb

To cause (something) to begin to burn.

Similar
ignitekindleaflamealightconflagratefirefire upinflame
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbset alight (third-person singular simple present sets alight, present participle setting alight, simple past and past participle set alight)

present singular third person sets alight · participle present setting alight

  1. transitiveTo cause (something) to begin to burn.

    Synonyms: ignite, kindle, aflame, alight, conflagrate, fire, fire up, ignite

  2. figurativelytransitiveTo arouse passion in (someone); to excite.

    Each chapel had its saintly shrine, hung around with offerings; its picture above the altar, although closely veiled, if by any painter of renown; and its hallowed tapers, burning continually, to set alight the devotion of the worshippers.

    1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Burial Chant”, in The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 227

    Synonyms: ignite, inflame, kindle, rouse, animate, awaken, electrify, enflame

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo cause (something) to begin to burn.

Similar
ignitekindleaflamealightconflagratefirefire upigniteinflameenkindlelightlight upset ablazeset afireset aflameset fireset on firetorch

verbTo arouse passion in (someone); to excite.

Similar
igniteinflamekindlerouseanimateawakenelectrifyenflameenkindleenthrillexagitateexciteexhilarateexsuscitatefillipfirefire the bloodgalvanizegin upignite
Also see
conflagratefirefire upigniteincenseinflamekindlelightlight upput to the torchquickenset on firetorch

Translations

Catalan abrandar
  • abrandarto cause to begin to burn
Esperanto ekbruligi
  • ekbruligito cause to begin to burn
Greek ανάβω, καίγομαι
  • ανάβω (anávo)to cause to begin to burn
  • καίγομαι (kaígomai)to cause to begin to burn
  • ανάβομαι (anávomai)to cause to begin to burn
Irish fionn
  • fionnto cause to begin to burn
Italian accendere
  • accendereto cause to begin to burn
Cite this entry
APA

set alight. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20alight

MLA

“set alight.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20alight. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “set alight,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20alight.

Source: set alight on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.