extinguish
verb (used with object)
to put out (a fire, light, etc.); put out the flame of (something burning or lighted).
extinguishing
-
present participleof extinguish.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
Before firefighters had finished extinguishing the blaze, I found Liliya Velyka, a 28-year-old book blogger, raking through the smouldering ruins, seeing if anything could be saved.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Trump administration officials affirmed Cole Allen shot a Secret Service officer, extinguishing doubt about the source of the gunfire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026
"Emergency services rushed to the scene and found the vehicle completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters carried out rescue and extinguishing operations. A security perimeter was set up," a police statement said.
From Barron's ● Mar. 11, 2026
The company that flips the houses it buys online reported a widening loss of $1.1 billion, from a $113 million loss in the year-ago period, mostly on the cost of extinguishing debt.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 20, 2026
The villagers nearer to the remains of the house held buckets, and a few were patrolling near the ash, looking for embers that still needed extinguishing.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
