Synonyms

extinguish

American

[ik-sting-gwish] / ɪkˈstɪŋ gwɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

to put out (a fire, light, etc.); put out the flame of (something burning or lighted).

to extinguish a candle.

Synonyms:

smother, quench

Antonyms:

ignite, light
to put an end to or bring to an end; wipe out of existence; annihilate.

to extinguish hope.
to obscure or eclipse, as by superior brilliance.
Law. to discharge (a debt), as by payment.

extinguish British

/ ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ /

verb

to put out or quench (a light, flames, etc)
to remove or destroy entirely; annihilate
archaic to eclipse or obscure by or as if by superior brilliance
law to discharge (a debt)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of extinguish

1535–45; < Latin ex ( s ) tingu ( ere ) ( ex- ex- ¹ + stinguere to quench) + -ish ²

Explanation

To extinguish something means to put an end to it, and get rid of it completely. Water can extinguish a fire; nasty smells can extinguish your appetite. Extinguish comes from the Latin word for quench, but while we might think that quenching something, say our thirst, is good, the word extinguish often has sinister overtones. In a genocide, one group tries to extinguish another — too quench their hatred, by killing everyone in the other group.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Haney also says that Rinderknecht is being tried to paper over the failure of firefighters to extinguish the initial blaze, saying they bear significant responsibility for the ensuing tragedy.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

People living near the refinery were forced to evacuate Tuesday, while more than 100 emergency personnel worked to extinguish the blaze, according to local officials.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

More than 160 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the blaze, Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Tuesday.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Firefighters were trying to extinguish the blazes in the still-smoldering rubble, while rescue workers laboured to pull victims from the debris and bulldozers tried to clear a path.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

By now he could extinguish the burning matches with his mouth quite well, but all the same Dustfinger took the box of matches away from him, and Farid looked sadly at his empty hands.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023