Meaning & use

ignition

noun·Everyday

The mechanism or system that starts the combustion process in an engine.

See it in a sentence

She turned the key in the ignition, and the engine rumbled to life.

A faulty ignition kept stalling the car every time it idled at a stoplight.

A note on using this word

Ignition can also mean simply the act of setting something on fire or beginning to burn, beyond its engine-specific sense.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

The action or process of setting something on fire or causing it to start burning.

A single spark was enough to cause the ignition of the dry brush.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ignition”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.