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

Break up the embers with a fireplace shovel, then bury the potatoes, seam-side up, completely in the embers. —Scott Clark, Saveur, 3 Apr. 2025

The decision to wear those throwbacks against the Texans ignited old flames from the embers of a decades-old relocation saga. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Cigarette embers burn in the dark and popsicles pointlessly drip red sticky liquid. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Hurricane-level winds carried embers into their Altadena community, burning block after block after block. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 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