What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
kindle
Example
She used some dry leaves to kindle the fire. [kindle: verb]
Example
The speaker's words kindled a sense of hope in the audience. [kindled: past tense verb]
spark
Example
The flint sparked and ignited the gas stove. [spark: verb]
Example
The teacher's comment sparked a lively debate among the students. [sparked: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spark is more commonly used than kindle in everyday language. Spark is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while kindle is less common and mainly used for starting a fire.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between kindle and spark?
Both kindle and spark are relatively formal words and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.