WordGarden.iofume
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /fjˈuːm/
US
- /ˈfjum/
Meanings
Noun
smoke, gas, or vapor with a strong or harmful smell
Verb
to give off smoke, gas, or vapor
to be very angry, often quietly or inwardly
Beyond the definition
Imagine a pot of chemicals on a fire: it fumes, sending strong gas up into the air. But "fume" is not only about smoke or gas. It also describes strong, quiet anger. Someone might fume after an insult, sitting there with a red face and saying very little. It feels like heat building up inside. You can fume about something, like a long delay, and you can also call the smoke or gas itself fumes.
The word "fume" has two main meanings, both connected by the idea of something forceful and potentially unpleasant being released. First, it describes the emission of smoke or strong smells, often from chemicals, engines, or burning substances. Think of exhaust fumes billowing from a car or the acrid fumes rising from a chemical spill. In this sense, fumes are often visible as a cloud of gas or vapor. For example: "The room was filled with paint fumes."
However, "fume" also describes a state of intense anger. When someone fumes, they are seething with rage, often expressing it silently through a clenched jaw and narrowed eyes. It is typically not an explosive outburst (though that can follow), but rather a simmering resentment. You might say, "She fumed at his careless remark," or "He was still fuming about the injustice." This usage suggests a "slow burn" of anger, like steam building up pressure inside a kettle.
Interestingly, both meanings share a common origin—the Latin word fumus, meaning smoke. Whether it is visible vapor or invisible rage, to fume is to release something powerful and potentially irritating into the world.
Examples
- 1
Cleaning products
Open a window before you use that cleaner; the fumes are very strong.
- 2
Digital messages
She was still fuming about the rude email the next morning.
- Patternbe fuming about + issue
be very angry about it
- 3
Family anger
Dad was fuming at me for coming home so late.
- Patternfume at + person
direct your anger at them
- 4
Silent anger
He said nothing during the meeting, but you could tell he was fuming.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Workplace mistake
The manager was left fuming over the mistake in the report.
- Patternfume over + problem
stay angry about it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- fumenounverb
Forms
- fumesverbnoun
- fuming-ing formverbnoun
- fumedpast tenseverbnoun