solar flare

noun

: a sudden temporary outburst of energy from a small area of the sun's surface

called also flare

Examples of solar flare in a Sentence

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.
At the peak of the cycle, the sun blasts out more solar flares, as well as coronal mass ejections, immense explosions of material that scream outward into the solar system. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026 Since Hinode launched, it's been measuring the sun's magnetic fields and taking cool photos of solar flares, sunspots and transits across the sun. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026 Subject matter that has recurred across Jafa’s oeuvre—Black Americans confronting the police, people dancing, concert documentation, and solar flares—also features here. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Space weather throughout history Over a century ago, in 1859, a large solar flare outshone the Sun, wrote Dagomar Degroot, an environmental historian at Georgetown University. — Mary Magnuson, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for solar flare

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar flare was in 1938

Rhymes for solar flare

See All Rhymes for solar flare

Browse Nearby Words

solar farm
solar flare
solar furnace
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Solar flare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20flare. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

solar flare

noun
: a sudden temporary outburst of energy from a small area of the sun's surface

More from Merriam-Webster on solar flare

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about solar flare

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All