extinguish

play

verb ex·tin·guish \ ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish \

Definition of extinguish

transitive verb

1 a (1) :to bring to an end :make an end of

hope for their safety was slowly extinguished

(2) :to reduce to silence or ineffectiveness

b :to cause to cease burning :quench

c :to cause extinction of (a conditioned response)

d :to dim the brightness of :eclipse

2 a :to cause to be void :nullify

extinguish a claim

b :to get rid of usually by payment

extinguish a debt

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extinguishable

play \ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-bəl\ adjective

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extinguisher

play \ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wi-shər\ noun

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extinguishment

play \ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish-mənt\ noun

See extinguish defined for English-language learners

See extinguish defined for kids

Examples of extinguish in a Sentence

The fire department was called in to extinguish the blaze.
He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray.
They ruthlessly extinguished all resistance.
News of the conflict extinguished our hopes for a peaceful resolution.

Recent Examples of extinguish from the Web

With the right management team, and someone who could extinguish the infighting at the company, investors believed that Twitter might one day be a billion-user platform.

— nick bilton, The Hive, "Don’t Panic, Wall Street: Why You Shouldn’t Bet Against Snapchat and Evan Spiegel," 19 July 2017
Before the lamps are extinguished for the night, however, the Platinum Heritage hosts suggest an optional morning activity: Rousing slightly before 5 a.m. to watch the sun rise from atop a nearby dune.

— jenny b. davis, star-telegram, "From shimmering sand dunes to glimmering skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 17 July 2017
D.C. firefighters were working to extinguish a fire in the basement of the World Bank Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington, the department said.

— peter hermann, Washington Post, "Firefighters putting out basement blaze in World Bank Building on Pennsylvania Avenue," 14 July 2017
The July 5 fire would be extinguished before any homes were damaged.

— david hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Report: Inmate firefighter suffered fatal injury from partner's chainsaw," 14 July 2017
That proximity sparked an interest in the famed poet’s work, a curiosity quickly extinguished by the incompatible combination of its complexity and my obtuseness.

— frank fitzpatrick, Philly.com, "Summer nights and basketball in Drexel Hill | Frank's Place," 14 July 2017
HarperCollins, 2017 ($27.99) Five times in the earth's history a mass extinction has almost entirely extinguished all animal life.

— andrea gawrylewski, Scientific American, "Bug Lovers, Earth’s Many Apocalypses, the Surprising Minds of Vegetative Patients and Other New Science Books," 3 July 2017
It was snuffed out two pitches later, plucked out of the air by the TCU shortstop and extinguished at second base.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "In season-ending loss, UofL baseball defined by coexistence of success and disappointment," 23 June 2017
The fire extinguished itself, but residents were left without power Fraud A resident reported June 20 multiple fraudulent credit card accounts had been opened in their name.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Police blotter: Burglars smash into La Grange Park restaurant during the night," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extinguish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of extinguish

Latin exstinguere (from ex- + stinguere to extinguish) + English -ish (as in abolish); akin to Latin instigare to incite — more at stick

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1540

See Words from the same year

extinguish Synonyms

Synonyms

blanket, douse (also dowse), put out, quench, snuff (out)

Antonyms

fire, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, light

Related Words

choke, smother, suffocate; blow out, rub out, snub (out), stamp (out), stub

Near Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp; create, invent; assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conserve, preserve, protect, save; rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore

EXTINGUISH Defined for English Language Learners

extinguish

play

verb

Definition of extinguish for English Language Learners

: to cause (something) to stop burning
: to cause the end or death of (something)

EXTINGUISH Defined for Kids

extinguish

play

verb ex·tin·guish \ ik-ˈstiŋ-gwish \

Definition of extinguish for Students

extinguished; extinguishing

1 :to cause to stop burning

2 :to cause to die out

More bad news extinguished all hope.

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extinguisher

noun

Medical Dictionary

extinguish

play

transitive verb ex·tin·guish \ ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish \

medical Definition of extinguish

:to cause extinction of (a conditioned response)

extinguish an avoidance response

Law Dictionary

extinguish

transitive verb ex·tin·guish

legal Definition of extinguish

1 :to cause the nonexistence of :do away with

2 :to cause (as a claim or right) to be void :nullify

3 :to get rid of (a debt or other liability) by payment or other compensatory adjustment

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extinguishable

adjective

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extinguishment

noun

Learn More about extinguish

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for extinguish Spanish Central: Translation of extinguish Nglish: Translation of extinguish for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of extinguish for Arabic speakers

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Examples of extinguish in a Sentence

Recent Examples of extinguish from the Web

Origin and Etymology of extinguish

extinguish Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

EXTINGUISH Defined for English Language Learners

extinguish

Definition of extinguish for English Language Learners

EXTINGUISH Defined for Kids

extinguish

Definition of extinguish for Students

extinguisher

Medical Dictionary

extinguish

medical Definition of extinguish

Law Dictionary

extinguish

legal Definition of extinguish

extinguishable

extinguishment

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