flame·out
ˈflām-ˌau̇t 
1
: the unintentional cessation of operation of a jet airplane engine
2
: a sudden downfall, failure, or cessation
3
: a person whose successful career ends abruptly
flamed out; flaming out; flames out
: to fail spectacularly and especially prematurely
Synonyms
Examples of flameout in a Sentence
Noun
Fans were disappointed by the team's flameout in the play-offs.
before her sudden, self-inflicted flameout, she was one of the state's brightest political stars
Verb
even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used
Recent Examples on the Web
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024
Machado’s resurgence When the Padres missed the playoffs following a second-half flameout last year, many fingers were pointed at Machado — the confident, but not always consistent, face of the franchise at third base.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Teams that swung freely seemed to advance more often in the playoffs, while more disciplined clubs like the Dodgers tended to flame out.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flameout 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
Yet to anoint it a contender for the pop flameout of the year and move on ignores the nagging trends that merged to form this Infinity Gauntlet of missteps.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024
Machado’s resurgence When the Padres missed the playoffs following a second-half flameout last year, many fingers were pointed at Machado — the confident, but not always consistent, face of the franchise at third base.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
But unlike past Dodgers teams that flamed out in the playoffs, this year’s group never deterred, bonding together through clubhouse meetings and player-only bus rides and cross-country flights in which even their families weren’t allowed.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Teams that swung freely seemed to advance more often in the playoffs, while more disciplined clubs like the Dodgers tended to flame out.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flameout
Dictionary Entries Near flameout
Cite this Entry
“Flameout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flameout. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share