verb
quench
kwehnch
Quench (verb) means to satisfy thirst, or more broadly, a strong desire. Example: “A cold glass of water quenched his thirst.”
verb
1
To satisfy thirst, or more broadly, a strong desire.
"A cold glass of water quenched his thirst."
"Nothing could quench her curiosity about the old house."
2
To put out a fire or extinguish a flame.
"Firefighters worked for hours to quench the blaze."
"He quenched the candle with his fingers."
3
To rapidly cool hot metal by plunging it into water or oil.
"The blacksmith quenched the glowing blade in a barrel of water."
"Quenching the steel too quickly can make it brittle."
How to use quench
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo satisfy thirst or desire, or to put out fire or cool hot metal.
Common pairings
quench your thirst
quench a fire
quench steel
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Word forms
- Plural
- quenches
- Third person singular
- quenches
- Past tense
- quenched, quent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A cold glass of water _____ his thirst.
Etymology
From Old English cwencan, related to a Germanic root for extinguishing.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “quench” mean?
The word “quench” means to satisfy thirst, or more broadly, a strong desire. In plain terms, to satisfy thirst or desire, or to put out fire or cool hot metal.
How do you pronounce “quench”?
“Quench” is pronounced kwehnch (/kwɛnt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “quench” in a sentence?
Here is “quench” used in a sentence: “A cold glass of water quenched his thirst.”
What part of speech is “quench”?
“Quench” is a verb.
Where does the word “quench” come from?
The word “quench” comes from Old English. From Old English cwencan, related to a Germanic root for extinguishing.
How many meanings does “quench” have?
“Quench” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to satisfy thirst, or more broadly, a strong desire.
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