start a fire
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.
The submarine vanished on November 15, 2017 after reporting that seawater had entered the ventilation system, causing a battery on the vessel to short-circuit and start a fire.
From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026
“Now everything is so wet it is hard to even start a fire with wood,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 13, 2025
The executives blamed “below average rainfall and extended periods of high winds” for increasing the risk that the company’s equipment could start a fire.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025
"Because there is no cooking gas, no food. When we want to have a cup of tea, I collect leaves to start a fire."
From BBC • May 2, 2025
“Much as I hate to start a fire on a day like this, we have to boil water,” I told Silas.
From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson
