extinguish
verb
ex·tin·guish
ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish 
extinguished; extinguishing; extinguishes
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
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 on the Web
Police try to extinguish a fire as supporters of Călin Georgescu protest the electoral body's decision to reject his candidacy in a presidential election redo in Bucharest, Romania, in March.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
Moisture of extinction was reached across most of the fire, extinguishing fine dead fuels.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
But perhaps those emergency workers should have continued to the London Stadium to extinguish some of the fires West Ham’s defence were setting for themselves when trying to deal with set pieces.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
The fire has since been extinguished and the cause remains under investigation.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
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Reuters, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
Moisture of extinction was reached across most of the fire, extinguishing fine dead fuels.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
But perhaps those emergency workers should have continued to the London Stadium to extinguish some of the fires West Ham’s defence were setting for themselves when trying to deal with set pieces.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
The fire has since been extinguished and the cause remains under investigation.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Cite this Entry
“Extinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extinguish. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
extinguish
verb
ex·tin·guish
ik-ˈstiŋ-gwish
1
: to cause to stop burning
2
: to cause to die out
extinguisher
noun
Medical Definition
extinguish
transitive verb
ex·tin·guish
ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish
: to cause extinction of (a conditioned response)
extinguish an avoidance response
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