flameout

1 of 2

noun

flame·​out ˈflām-ˌau̇t How to pronounce flameout (audio)
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

flame out

2 of 2

verb

flamed out; flaming out; flames out

intransitive verb

: to fail spectacularly and especially prematurely

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There’s disappointment, to be sure, about the flameout on the road. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025 Another flameout with the big game coming to Santa Clara would radicalize a growing portion of the fan base that expects better. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
After the Pittsburgh Steelers flamed out against the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth sat together on a bench at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, sharing a moment of quiet reflection. Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 About five minutes later, however, one of Starship’s engines flamed out. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flameout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flameout was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Flameout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flameout. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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