take fire

verb

To catch fire; to begin to burn.

“She took heavy fire from all quarters.”

Similar
go up in flamescatch firecatch on firecombustconflagratefirego up in smokeignite
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Meanings

verbtake fire (third-person singular simple present takes fire, present participle taking fire, simple past took fire, past participle taken fire)

present singular third person takes fire · participle present taking fire · past took fire · participle past taken fire

  1. datedTo catch fire; to begin to burn.

    Synonyms: go up in flames, catch fire, catch on fire, combust, conflagrate, fire, go up in flames, go up in smoke

  2. figurativelyTo become excited or enthused about something.
  3. idiomaticTo be subjected to enemy attack with firearms; to be under fire.

    She took heavy fire from all quarters.

    1 more example

    The unit was taking fire from the guerrillas.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo catch fire; to begin to burn.

Similar
go up in flamescatch firecatch on firecombustconflagratefirego up in flamesgo up in smokeignitelightspunk

More synonyms by meaning

verbstart to burn or burst into flames

Similar
eruptignitecatch firecombustconflagrateburn
Broader
change stateturn
Also see
burn upcatch firecombustconflagrateeruptfirego up in flamesgo up in smokeignitelightspunk

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: take fire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.