verb
extinguish
ihk-STIHNG-gwihsh
Extinguish (verb) means to put out a fire or light. Example: “Firefighters worked all night to extinguish the blaze.”
verb
1
To put out a fire or light.
"Firefighters worked all night to extinguish the blaze."
2
To put a complete end to something, such as hope or a feeling.
"They intended to extinguish the enemy by force of numbers"
"The setback nearly extinguished her hopes of winning."
"She extinguished all my hopes."
How to use extinguish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo put out something burning, or to completely end a feeling, hope, or idea.
Common pairings
extinguish a fire
extinguish hope
extinguish a flame
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- extinguishes
- Past tense
- extinguished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Firefighters worked all night to _____ the blaze.
Etymology
From Latin extinguere, "to put out, quench" — from ex- ("out") plus stinguere ("to quench").
Synonyms
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eliminate
eradicate
quench
decimate
annihilate
blow out
stub out
wipe out
snuff out
crush out
press out
carry off
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for extinguish
See all rhymes for extinguish →Frequently asked questions
What does “extinguish” mean?
The word “extinguish” means to put out a fire or light. In plain terms, to put out something burning, or to completely end a feeling, hope, or idea.
How do you pronounce “extinguish”?
“Extinguish” is pronounced ihk-STIHNG-gwihsh (/ɪkˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “extinguish” in a sentence?
Here is “extinguish” used in a sentence: “Firefighters worked all night to extinguish the blaze.”
What part of speech is “extinguish”?
“Extinguish” is a verb.
Where does the word “extinguish” come from?
The word “extinguish” comes from Latin. From Latin extinguere, "to put out, quench" — from ex- ("out") plus stinguere ("to quench").
How many meanings does “extinguish” have?
“Extinguish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to put out a fire or light.
