What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
detonate
Example
The bomb detonated with a loud boom. [detonated: past tense]
Example
The demolition team will detonate the building at noon. [detonate: verb]
ignite
Example
The match ignited the paper. [ignited: past tense]
Example
The gasoline fumes can ignite with a spark. [ignite: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ignite is more commonly used than detonate in everyday language. Ignite is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while detonate is less common and is mostly used in military or explosive-related contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between detonate and ignite?
Detonate is typically associated with a formal and technical tone, while ignite is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
