combustion
noun
com·bus·tion
kəm-ˈbəs-chən 
1
: an act or instance of burning
Smoke is produced during combustion.
2
: a usually rapid chemical process (such as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light
The carburetor mixes fuel with air for combustion.
also
: a slower oxidation (as in the body)
3
: violent agitation : tumult
… periods of great social combustion alternating with quiescence …—
Kurt Andersen
Kurt AndersenExamples of combustion in a Sentence
Combustion may occur at high temperatures.
This ratio of air to fuel results in better combustion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Natural gas systems, which use methane as a fuel input and release carbon dioxide upon combustion, are increasingly recognized as a major obstacle to addressing climate change.
—The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Whether or not EVs have been selling for personal or fleet driver use, the dramatic upswing in sales since 2019 is now starting to result in another important development that means the beginning of the end for internal combustion – the growth in secondhand sales.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The car, which looks almost identical from the outside to its internal combustion counterpart, is eerily quiet even at highway speeds.
—Jack Ewing, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
The analysis shows how air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels is combining with other factors, like wildfires influenced by climate change, to stress human health worldwide.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Hahn turned in a vibrant, nuanced performance in Hulu’s limited series Tiny Beautiful Things as Clare Pierce, a mother on the brink of personal combustion as amid divorce, grief and the complexities of parenting a teenage daughter.
—Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
While Judge is making $40 million, on a team trying to win and pick up the rubble from last season’s 82-win combustion, Devers is making $29 million on a team getting further and further removed from its fourth championship following an 86-year gap between titles.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Lyon plans to introduce a similar measure and the German city of Tübingen increased the cost of resident parking permits 600% for combustion vehicles that weigh over 1.8 metric tons.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024
There’s none of the musical accompaniment of internal combustion.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024
The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Whether or not EVs have been selling for personal or fleet driver use, the dramatic upswing in sales since 2019 is now starting to result in another important development that means the beginning of the end for internal combustion – the growth in secondhand sales.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The car, which looks almost identical from the outside to its internal combustion counterpart, is eerily quiet even at highway speeds.
—Jack Ewing, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
The analysis shows how air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels is combining with other factors, like wildfires influenced by climate change, to stress human health worldwide.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Hahn turned in a vibrant, nuanced performance in Hulu’s limited series Tiny Beautiful Things as Clare Pierce, a mother on the brink of personal combustion as amid divorce, grief and the complexities of parenting a teenage daughter.
—Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
While Judge is making $40 million, on a team trying to win and pick up the rubble from last season’s 82-win combustion, Devers is making $29 million on a team getting further and further removed from its fourth championship following an 86-year gap between titles.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Lyon plans to introduce a similar measure and the German city of Tübingen increased the cost of resident parking permits 600% for combustion vehicles that weigh over 1.8 metric tons.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024
There’s none of the musical accompaniment of internal combustion.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combustion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near combustion
Cite this Entry
“Combustion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combustion. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
combustion
noun
com·bus·tion
kəm-ˈbəs-chən
1
: an act or instance of burning
2
: a chemical process in which substances combine with oxygen
Medical Definition
combustion
noun
com·bus·tion
kəm-ˈbəs-chən
: a usually very rapid chemical process (as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light
also
: a slower oxidation (as in the body)
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