extinguish

[ik-sting-gwish]

verb (used with object)

1. 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

2. to put an end to or bring to an end; wipe out of existence; annihilate.

   to extinguish hope.

3. to obscure or eclipse, as by superior brilliance.

4. Law.,  to discharge (a debt), as by payment.

extinguish

/ ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ /

verb

1. to put out or quench (a light, flames, etc)

2. to remove or destroy entirely; annihilate

3. archaic,  to eclipse or obscure by or as if by superior brilliance

4. law to discharge (a debt)

Other Word Forms

• extinguisher noun
• extinguishment noun
• extinguishable adjective
• nonextinguishable adjective
• nonextinguished adjective
• preextinguish verb (used with object)
• preextinguishment noun
• self-extinguishing adjective
• unextinguishable adjective
• unextinguished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinguish¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinguish¹

C16: from Latin exstinguere, from stinguere to quench

Example Sentences

Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it destroyed any homes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Fire experts said that in some environments, a blaze can rekindle days and even months after the initial fire is thought to be extinguished.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The three-alarm fire on Sept. 16 brought down part of the factory’s roof, requiring 26 area fire departments to extinguish, according to the Oswego County fire coordinators office.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some Hamas fighters are trapped, the president continued, “waiting for me to give the word, ‘GO,’ for their lives to be quickly extinguished.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Federal investigators determined that the Jan. 7 fire was a so-called holdover from the Jan. 1 fire, continuing to smolder and burn underground after firefighters thought they had extinguished it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abate 
• annihilate 
• destroy 
• eliminate 
• eradicate 
• erase 
• exterminate 
• obliterate 
• quell 
• stamp out 
• suppress 
• wipe out