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Definitions

fire up

VERB
accelerate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advance expedite further hasten open up quicken spur step up stimulate
STRONG
drive dust forward gun hurry impel precipitate railroad rev roll tool
WEAK
hammer on lay a patch lay rubber make tracks nail it peel rubber put on afterburners put pedal to metal rev up speed up step on the gas
Antonyms
STRONGEST
block cease check delay discourage halt hinder slow stop
STRONG
dissuade repress wait
WEAK
decelerate defer impede postpone retard slow down
VERB
actuate
Synonyms
STRONG
activate animate arouse cause drive energize excite impel incite induce influence inspire instigate mobilize motivate move prompt propel quicken rouse spur stimulate
WEAK
egg on key up put up to turn on work into lather work up
Antonyms
STRONG
bore calm check deaden delay depress discourage dissuade dull halt hinder lull prevent quiet repress retard slow stop weaken
WEAK
impede
VERB
annoy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate bore bother displease disturb exasperate gall irk peeve perturb rile trouble turn off vex worry
STRONG
abrade badger bedevil beleaguer break bug chafe distress get gnaw harass harry madden miff nag needle nettle nudge pester plague provoke ride ruffle tease
WEAK
T-off ask for it be at be on the back of burn up egg on heat up henpeck hit where one lives make waves push button tick off work on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease assist calm charm cheer comfort delight enchant help make happy please quiet reassure soothe
STRONG
mollify support
WEAK
gratify
VERB
arouse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
awaken foment incite inflame instigate kindle provoke rouse spark spur stimulate stir whip up
STRONG
agitate alert animate call challenge electrify enliven foster goad move rally send thrill waken warm whet
WEAK
heat up turn on wake up work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm cease discourage disenchant dissuade halt prevent put out stop
STRONG
bore dishearten dull ignore receive
WEAK
lull quiet
VERB
cause
Synonyms
STRONGEST
begin create generate induce lead to make precipitate produce provoke
STRONG
brainstorm breed compel effect elicit engender evoke hatch incite introduce kickoff kindle let motivate muster occasion open originate revert secure
WEAK
be at the bottom of break in break the ice bring to pass come out with cook up dream up get things rolling give rise to make up result in sow the seeds start the ball rolling think up work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
destroy discourage end halt prevent ruin stop
STRONG
block close cover delay deter finish hide hinder impede keep obstruct repress
VERB
drive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cruise drag fly guide operate propel push ride run send speed spin start steer transport travel turn
STRONG
actuate advance bicycle bike coast cycle dash direct handle impel manage mobilize motor roll tailgate tool wheel
WEAK
bear down burn rubber burn up the road floor it lean on it make sparks fly pour it on step on it step on the gas vehiculate
Antonyms
STRONGEST
halt hold keep remain stand stay stop walk
STRONG
mismanage neglect
WEAK
check curb discourage dissuade repress retard
VERB
enliven
Synonyms
STRONGEST
animate brighten buoy entertain galvanize invigorate jazz up juice up recreate rejuvenate spice stimulate
STRONG
cheer divert excite exhilarate fire gladden hearten inspirit quicken refresh renew restore rouse spark vivify
WEAK
brace up buck up cheer up give a lift give life to let sunshine in pep up perk up pick up put pep into snap out of it spice up vivificate wake up work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bore depress discourage dull kill
STRONG
bring down calm damage dishearten halt stop upset
WEAK
enervate exhaust fatigue subdue tire
VERB
flare
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blaze boil over break out burn explode flare up flash flicker glow seethe
STRONG
burst dart dazzle flutter fume glare rant shimmer
WEAK
burn up go off lose control shoot up
VERB
goad
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coerce harass hound prod provoke tease
STRONG
animate annoy arouse bully drive encourage excite exhort force goose impel inspirit instigate irritate lash move needle press prick prompt propel push rowel sic sound spark spur stimulate sting thrust trigger urge whip worry
WEAK
key up put up to turn on work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
leave alone
STRONG
aid block bore calm check deaden depress discourage dissuade halt lull please praise prevent pull quiet repress soothe stop suppress surrender
VERB
incense
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anger bother disgust enrage exasperate excite inflame infuriate irritate rile
STRONG
ire madden provoke umbrage
WEAK
ask for it egg on get a rise out of get under one's skin mad make blood boil make see red
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease calm compose help make happy pacify placate please quiet soothe tranquilize
WEAK
comfort
VERB
inflame
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate arouse disturb embitter enrage exacerbate foment heat up ignite incense infuriate intensify irritate kindle provoke rile roil rouse stimulate worsen
STRONG
annoy burn exasperate excite fan fire gall get grate heat increase intoxicate light madden vex
WEAK
impassion put out steam up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease calm comfort delight discourage disenchant extinguish help lull make happy pacify please quiet soothe stop
STRONG
bore cool dull lose quench
WEAK
alleviate placate tranquilize
VERB
inspire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affect animate arouse cause embolden excite galvanize get hearten impress influence instill motivate produce provoke spark spur stir sway touch trigger
STRONG
carry commove elate endue enkindle enliven exalt exhilarate imbue infect inflame inform infuse inspirit invigorate occasion quicken reassure strike urge
WEAK
be responsible for give impetus give one an idea give rise to set up start off work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bore calm deaden depress discourage dissuade halt leave alone lull please quiet stop
STRONG
dishearten dull enervate lose
VERB
instigate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abet bring about foment incite inflame initiate kindle plot prompt spur whip up
STRONG
actuate encourage goad hint impel insinuate move needle persuade plan raise rouse scheme start stimulate suggest urge
WEAK
add fuel egg on make waves put up to rabble-rouse set on steam up stir up turn on work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deter discourage dissuade halt neglect put out stop
STRONG
calm conclude depress finish ignore repress suppress
WEAK
prevent
VERB
kindle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arouse awaken foment inflame inspire provoke rouse sharpen stimulate stir whet work up
STRONG
agitate animate bestir challenge enkindle exasperate induce rally thrill wake waken
WEAK
burn up egg on get smoking key up turn on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blunt calm dampen discourage dissuade dull stop
STRONG
soothe
WEAK
disenchant turn off
VERB
outrage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggrieve incense infuriate insult scandalize shock
STRONG
affront defile deflower desecrate force injure jar madden maltreat mistreat misuse oppress persecute rape ravage ravish spoil violate
WEAK
boil over burn up do violence to ill-treat kick up a row make hit the ceiling raise Cain reach boiling point whip up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compliment flatter please praise
STRONG
aid assist gladden help honor make happy sanctify satisfy soothe treat well
WEAK
delight
VERB
pique
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy arouse displease excite gall galvanize ignite incense irk irritate kindle offend rile stimulate whet
STRONG
absorb affront bother bug exasperate get goad goose grab miff mortify motivate move nettle peeve prick quicken rouse spur sting stir vex wound
WEAK
egg on get a rise out of get under skin give a hard time give the business make waves put out work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid calm compose delight extinguish lull make happy please quiet soothe
STRONG
appease compliment dissuade help misunderstand mollify placate satisfy
VERB
provoke
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arouse bring about cause elicit galvanize generate incite induce inflame inspire instigate kindle lead to motivate precipitate prompt stir
STRONG
animate awaken begin bestir challenge electrify enthuse excite fire innervate make move occasion pique prime produce promote quicken rally rouse thrill titillate titivate waken whet
WEAK
bring down bring on bring to one's feet build up call forth draw forth give rise to innerve roust suscitate
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm depress deter discourage dissuade halt prevent put out stop wait
STRONG
bore deaden demote destroy disenchant dishearten dull lose ruin weaken
WEAK
delight end make happy please
VERB
push
Synonyms
STRONGEST
encourage press pressure speed spur
STRONG
browbeat bulldoze coerce constrain dragoon expedite goad goose hurry impel influence inspire jolly kid motivate oblige persuade prod railroad squeeze steamroll strong-arm
WEAK
bear down egg on exert influence go to town on key up lean on overpress pour it on push around put the screws to put up to sell on speed up turn on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage dissuade leave alone
STRONG
delay hinder repress slow stop suppress
WEAK
conceal hide pull
VERB
rouse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate arouse awaken disturb galvanize heighten incite inflame kindle provoke rile startle stir trigger wake up whip up work up
STRONG
aggravate anger animate bestir bug challenge craze deepen enhance enliven exhilarate foment innervate instigate intensify magnify mount move needle pique quicken rally redouble rise urge vivify wake waken whet
WEAK
ask for it get going innerve intensate key up make waves pep up steam up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
appease calm comfort deter discourage dissuade halt lull make happy pacify please put out quiet soothe stop tranquilize
STRONG
dampen decline decrease dishearten drop dull fall fix lessen lower regress slow slump soften weaken
WEAK
disenchant nap sleep
VERB
rush
Synonyms
STRONGEST
barrel bolt break charge chase dash dispatch fly hustle press push run scramble scurry shoot sprint zip
STRONG
accelerate career course dart expedite fleet fling flit haste hasten hotfoot quicken race roll scud streak surge tear whiz zoom
WEAK
get cracking get the lead out go like lightning hurry up lose no time make haste make short work of shake a leg speed up step on the gas
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dawdle retreat slow stay wait walk
STRONG
decelerate hinder retard
VERB
spur
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arouse drive propel push spark stimulate stir trigger
STRONG
animate awaken countenance exhort favor goad goose impel instigate press prick prod rally rouse sic urge
WEAK
egg on key up put up to turn on work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm check discourage dissuade halt repress stop
STRONG
deaden
WEAK
disapprove
VERB
stimulate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arouse encourage inspire prompt quicken spark spur trigger vitalize
STRONG
activate animate commove dynamize elate energize enliven exhilarate fan fire foment foster galvanize goad grab hook impel incite inflame innervate instigate jazz motivate move perk pique prod rouse send spirit support urge vivify whet
WEAK
build a fire under get one going get one started innerve juice key up set up steam up stir up turn on wake up work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
block discourage dissuade halt stop
STRONG
bore dampen delay depress deter dishearten dull let go neglect release tire
WEAK
calm
VERB
thrill
Synonyms
STRONGEST
animate delight electrify enchant inspire tickle titillate wow
STRONG
arouse enthuse flush flutter galvanize glow grab juice move palpitate quicken quiver rally rouse score send stir tingle tremble
WEAK
blow away go over big key up knock one's socks off race one's motor stir up turn on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage disenchant repulse
STRONG
be still calm dissuade dull lose retard weaken
WEAK
bring down depress dishearten
VERB
upset
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate bewilder dismay distract disturb perturb unnerve unsettle
STRONG
afflict ail bug confound cramp craze debilitate derange discombobulate discompose disconcert disquiet distress flip floor flurry fluster grieve incapacitate indispose pother rattle ruffle sicken spook turn unhinge
WEAK
egg on flip out get to give a hard time key up lay up make a scene make waves pick on psych rock the boat stir up throw off balance turn on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm encourage explain quiet soothe
STRONG
aid allow assist clear up comfort cure help mend please settle
WEAK
delight make happy
VERB
urge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advise advocate appeal to ask commend compel endorse exhort favor force implore press promote prompt propose push recommend request support
STRONG
adjure advance attract beseech champion charge conjure counsel countenance drive entreat further goad hasten impel incite induce influence inspire instigate maneuver move plead propel rationalize sanction solicit spur stimulate tempt wheedle
WEAK
egg on insist on put up to speak for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
censure condemn criticize deny disapprove discourage dissuade hinder hurt let go oppose protest pull refuse reject reply stop
STRONG
check delay halt prevent repress repulse retreat
VERB
wake/waken
Synonyms
WEAK
activate animate arouse awaken challenge enliven fire freshen galvanize grasp jazz up key up kindle notice pep up provoke quicken rally renew rouse see steam up stir up switch on understand whet zip up
Antonyms
WEAK
discourage dissuade nap sleep

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When a child reads a physical book with an adult, important brain regions fire up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

That routine was becoming normal, he said, though the engine crew was being kept on standby, ready to "fire up our engines" in case of emergency.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Ivanpah has no on-site battery storage, which means it mainly makes power while the sun is shining, and it relies on natural gas to fire up its boilers each morning.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2026

The company is set to fire up a new gas-burning power plant that will largely replace the generation lost from Tihange, boosting Belgium’s greenhouse gas emissions, at least temporarily.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

I had to fire up the stove with a bunch of kindling while Grandma and Mary Alice went to work on the potatoes and onions.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck