ember

noun

em·​ber ˈem-bər 

1

: a glowing fragment (as of coal) from a fire

especially : one smoldering in ashes

2

embers plural : the smoldering remains of a fire

3

embers plural : slowly dying or fading emotions, memories, ideas, or responses still capable of being revived

the embers of his past

Examples of ember in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the zany Hypothetically, the End, for which director Lily Drummond won the award for Best Editor, two best friends scramble to marry during the dying embers of New Year’s Eve 1999, convinced that the Y2K bug is about to usher forth the end of days. —Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

One year ago last week, Kendrick Lamar set flames to Drake’s reputation that the rap world is still feeling the embers from. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2025

The rabbi intones psalms and speaks about his mother, offering recollections of her and the principal details of her life: birth in the embers of the Shoah, Yiddishkeit, Soviet existence, antisemitism, immigration, courage, struggle, family, community, legacy. —David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025

If burning is allowed in your area, make sure your burn barrel has a tight, weighted metal lid with small ventilation holes to prevent embers from escaping. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English eymere, from Old Norse eimyrja; akin to Old English ǣmerge ashes, Latin urere to burn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ember

• ember day

Rhymes for ember

• member
• december
• dismember
• nonmember
• november
• remember
• september

Kids Definition

ember

noun

em·​ber ˈem-bər 

: a glowing piece of coal or wood from a fire

especially : such a piece smoldering in ashes