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extinguish Definition

ex·tin·guish (ek stiŋ′gwis̸h, ik-)

transitive verb

  1. to put out (a fire, etc.); quench; smother
  2. to put an end to; destroy or cause to die out
  3. to put in the shade; eclipse; obscure
  4. Law
    1. to make void; nullify
    2. to settle (a debt)

Etymology: L extinguere, exstinguere, to quench, destroy < ex-, out + stinguere, to extinguish (for IE base see stick) + -ish

extinguish Related Forms
ex·tin′·guish·able adjective ex·tin′·guish·ment noun
extinguish Synonyms

extinguish

v.

  1. To put out

    smother, choke, quench, douse, snuff out, blow out, stamp out, blot out, drown out, stifle, turn off, switch off, suffocate, put down, stub out.

  2. To destroy

    wipe out, annihilate, exterminate; see destroy 1.

extinguish Usage Examples

Object

  • blaze: Three fire engines were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze.
  • flame: Have a wet cloth handy to extinguish any flame.
  • candle: Test the sensor by holding a recently extinguished candle or taper under the alarm.
  • fire: Crews used 1 low pressure hose reel to extinguish a small fire in a cell in white wing.
  • flashlight: The standing child is weeping and holding in his right hand the symbol of an extinguished flashlight.
  • cigarette: A second pulled up his sleeve and extinguished eight cigarettes on his arm.

Subject

  • firefighter: A fire was discovered in the hallway and was quickly extinguished by 2 Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using hosereel jets.
  • order: Once highway rights have been established, then highway rights can only be extinguished by a formal order.
  • head: This was extinguished by a single sprinkler head with minimal damage.

Modifying Another Word

  • altogether: These are centers where spiritual life has not yet been altogether extinguished by the tyrannical mediocrity of Western materialism.
  • quickly: Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire which left the flat heavily smoke logged.
  • virtually: Unionism, once a vibrant force in parts of the South, has been virtually extinguished.
  • properly: They said the most likely cause was a cigarette which had not been properly extinguished.
  • immediately: The rag was extinguished immediately it hit the smoke, there was no oxygen at all in the mixture.
  • finally: Admiral Hawke finally extinguished any French hopes of an invasion at the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 21 November.

Preposition: of

  • fire: Without the early action of the sprinklers the fire spreading and the extinguishing of the fire by the Fire Service may cause greater damage.

Preposition: with

  • reel: The fire was extinguished with a hose reel and a positive pressure ventilation fan used to disperse smoke.
  • water: Supervisors should not leave the bonfire until they are certain it has been fully extinguished with water.

Preposition: by

  • firefighter: A fire was discovered in the hallway and was quickly extinguished by 2 Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using hosereel jets.
  • order: Once highway rights have been established, then highway rights can only be extinguished by a formal order.
extinguish Quotes

It is, we believe, Idle to hope that the simple stirrup-pump Can extinguish hell.

—Reed, Henry

Este natural impulso que Dios puso en m|¤†su Majestad sabe por que¤   y para que¤  ; y sabe que le he pedido que apague la luz de mi entendimiento dejando so¤  lo lo que baste para guardar su Ley, pues lo dema¤  s sobra, (seg u¤ n algunos) en una mujer; y aun hay quien dice que dan‹  a. This natural impulse which God has implanted in me†only His Majesty knows whyand wherefore and His Majesty also knows that I have prayed to Him to extinguish the light of my mind, only leaving sufficient to keep His Law, since any more is overmuch, so some say, in a woman, and there are even those who say it is harmful.

—Cruz, SorJuana Ine¤  s de la