Flares: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used in casual conversation and fashion descriptions to refer to pants that widen from the knee down.

• I love wearing flares with my vintage shirts.
• Flares are making a comeback this season.

Often associated with 1970s fashion and culture, used when discussing retro or vintage styles.

• My mom has a pair of bell-bottoms from when she was in high school.
• Bell-bottoms were all the rage during the disco era.

Refers to any pants that have a wide fit throughout, often used in fashion discussions and styling advice.

• Wide-leg pants are great for a comfortable yet stylish look.
• She prefers wide-leg pants over skinny jeans.

Used in fashion catalogs, advertisements, and formal writing when describing pants that flare out at the bottom.

• These flare pants pair perfectly with high heels.
• The new collection includes flare pants in various colors and fabrics.

This repetition in the list suggests another form or usage frequency; see the first instance for context and examples.

• The soldier used flares to signal for help.
• The fireworks flares lit up the night sky.

This phrase is generally used to describe something catching fire quickly or a sudden burst of strong emotions.

• The dry leaves blazed up as soon as they caught a spark.
• She tends to blaze up when she's angry.

This word is often used in medicine or general language to describe a sudden worsening of a condition or a situation; it often carries a negative connotation.

• She had a flare-up of her arthritis.
• There was a flare-up of violence in the area.

Commonly used to describe a sudden release of something intense, like a volcano, or a burst of emotions.

• The volcano erupted, spewing lava for miles.
• The crowd erupted in cheers when the team scored.