embers

IPA/ˈem.bər/
KK[ˈɛmbɚz]IPA/ˈem.bɚ/

embers — noun

  • emberssingular
  • embersesplural

1. the small glowing remains of burnt wood and coal that keep their heat long after

1.nounB2
Definition

the small glowing remains of burnt wood and coal that keep their heat long after a fire's flames have died

Example

Camila stirred the embers with a long stick and watched them glow.

Hari threw another log onto the dying embers of the campfire.

collocation: dying embers

Common collocations
  • dying embers
  • glowing embers
  • hot embers
  • stir the embers
  • blow on the embers
Synonyms
  • cinders

    cinders are usually darker and cooler than embers, often already burnt out

  • coals

    coals can mean the fuel itself or the burning pieces; embers specifically means the glowing remains after flames die

Antonyms
  • ashes

    ashes are the cold, powdery remains left after everything has burned completely

  • flames

    flames are the visible, active fire; embers are what remains when flames disappear

Grammar Patterns

embers of [a fire/campfire/fireplace]

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural form 'embers.' The singular 'ember' exists but is very rare in everyday English.

Common Mistakes

The fire left only an ember.
The fire left only embers.
'embers' is almost always plural; the singular form is very rare.

Word family

  • ember
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Embers, cinders, coals, and ashes all describe what is left after something burns, but they differ in heat and appearance. Embers are the glowing, hot pieces that remain when flames die — they can still start a new fire. Cinders are similar but are usually darker and cooler, often already burnt out. Coals can refer to the fuel itself or to the red-hot burning pieces in a fire. Ashes are the soft, grey or white powder left after everything has completely burned — they are always cold. If you can still see an orange glow in the fireplace, those are embers, not ashes.

cinders ↗coals ↗ashes ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • dying embers
  • glowing embers
  • hot embers
  • stir the embers
  • blow on the embers

Prepositions

  • in the embers
  • onto the embers
  • among the embers

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Embers comes from Old English 'æmyrge' (meaning 'ashes' or 'glowing remains'), which is related to Old Norse 'eimyrja.' The word has always described the hot, smoldering pieces left after a fire's flames die down. The modern spelling with 'b' appeared in Middle English, influenced by words like 'timber' that followed a similar sound pattern.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1