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.

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

That includes lower-surface cruise missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles that fire up and over the roughly 35,000 feet that commercial flights typically operate at.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

He added that officers had better and more effective equipment, and had stronger incapacitant spray, as well as water cannon "which they didn't have to fire up".

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2025

So if you fire up the grill this weekend — even attempting one of Ramsay’s barbecue favorites — still, make sunscreen the main course.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2025

There are many creative ways to use these inexpensive instruments to help and inspire you, and which will fire up a child’s imagination.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

fire up

Example Sentences

Related Words