Dictionary

extinguish en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ɪkˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin extinguo (“to put out (what is burning), quench, extinguish, deprive of life, destroy, abolish”), from ex (“out”) + stinguere (“to put out, quench, extinguish”). Doublet of extinct.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To end (something). ▸ To stop (fire, etc.) from burning; also, to stop (light, etc.) from shining; to put out, to quench.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To end (something). ▸ To eclipse or obscure (someone or something).
   • The rays of the sun were extinguished by the thunder clouds.
   • A beauty that extinguishes all others by comparison
3. (figuratively, transitive) To end (something). ▸ To kill (someone).
4. (figuratively, transitive) To end (something). ▸ To put an end to (something) completely; to annihilate, to destroy.
   • They intended to extinguish the enemy by force of numbers
   • [T]he fauour of Princes and Magiſtrates noryſheth, augmenteth, and amplyfyeth all artes and ſciences by liberalitie, and extynguyſheth the ſame by miſerable couetouſnes and parcimonie. 1561, Richard Eden, “To the Ryght Worshypfull Syr Wyllyam Garrerd Knyght, and Master Thomas Lodge, Aldermen of the Citie of London, and Gouernours of the Honorable Felowshyp or Societie, aswell of Certaine of the Nobilitie, as of Marchauntes Aduenturers, for the Discouery of Landes, Territories, Ilandes, and Seignories Vnknowen, and Not before Their First Aduenture or Enterprise by Seas or Nauigations Commonly Frequented: And to the Right Worshypfull the Consulles, Assistentes, and Comminaltie of the Same Societie, Richarde Eden Wyssheth Health and Prosperitie”, in Martin Cortes [i.e., Martín Cortés de Albacar], translated by Richard Eden, The Arte of Nauigation: Conteynyng a Compendious Description of the Sphere, with the Makyng of Certen Instrumentes and Rules for Nauigations: and Exemplified by Manye Demonstrations. […], London: […] Richard Jugge, […], →OCLC, signature [¶ iii], recto:
   • She extinguished all my hopes.
5. (figuratively, transitive) To end (something). ▸ To put an end to (something) completely; to annihilate, to destroy. ▸ To bring about the extinction of (a conditioned reflex).
   • Many patients can extinguish their phobias after a few months of treatment.
6. (figuratively, transitive) To end (something). ▸ To suppress (something, as feelings, a person's spirit, a state of affairs, etc.); to quench.
7. (figuratively, transitive) To end (something). ▸ To abolish or make void (a law, a legal right, etc.); also, to cancel (a creditor's claim, a licence, etc.).
   • 1668 December 19, James Dalrymple, “Mr. Alexander Seaton contra Menzies” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), page 575
   • If the amnesty becomes law as expected this month or in June, it promises to extinguish the charges Puigdemont faces of disobedience and misuse of public funds. 2024 May 11, Barney Jopson, “Catalonia separatist deal tested at ballot box”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2:
8. (intransitive, reflexive) To die out.

Forms

Deriveds

extinguishant · extinguishable · extinguishment · inextinguishability · self-extinguishing

Relateds

extinction · extinct · distinguish · extinguisher · fire extinguisher

Synonyms

erase · diffuse · eliminate · obliterate · eradicate · extirpate · bewreck · unmake · aerosolize · overturn · waste · raze · destroy · extinct · unexist · jazz · pull down · desolate · disintegrate · wipe off · blotto · disperse · ravage · devastate · overthrow · total · overturn · blotto · stamp out · demolish · unbreed · extinguish · ruin · blot out · wipe off · ruinate · unbreed · unmake · liquidate · decompose · fordo · extinct · remove · uproot · total · subvert · liquidate · eradicate · diffuse · dissolve · wreck · pulverize · benothing · race · eliminate · atomize · fuck · ruin · blot out · annihilate · obliterate · harry · devastate · demolish · raze · aerosolize · level · lay waste · stamp out · wreck · dissolve · desolate · nuke · unexist · decompose · extirpate · annihilate · nuke · uproot · waste · bewreck · extinct · extinct · smother · disintegrate · extinct · wipe out · lay waste · extinguish · wipe out · atomize · race · harry · destroy · dash · disperse · subvert · ruinate · remove · exterminate · pull down · fuck · dash · ravel · benothing · fordo · overthrow · exterminate · douse · level · ravel · pulverize · ravage · erase · jazz · extinct

Translations (135)

ga múch (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ja 消す (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · tk öçürmek (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · es apagar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · rm stüzzer (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · sq shthur (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · da slukke (to eclipse or obscure (someone or something) — see also eclipse, obscure) · ru затмить (to eclipse or obscure (someone or something) — see also eclipse, obscure) · hu elolt (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · za ndaep (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · cy diffodd (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · az keçirmək (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · km ពន្លត់ (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ru погаси́ть (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · mi tinei (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · mt tefa (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · hy հանգցնել (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · gl apagar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ckb کوژاندن (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · pl ugasić (to eclipse or obscure (someone or something) — see also eclipse, obscure) · az söndürmək (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · de abschalten (to bring about the extinction of (a conditioned reflex)) · ru разрушить (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · tk söndürmek (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · da skygge for (to eclipse or obscure (someone or something) — see also eclipse, obscure) · haw hoʻopio (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · rm stidar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · mn унтраах (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · sq fik (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · sv släcka (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · sc ammortiare (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ja 打っ潰す (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · fi tuhota (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · nl vernietigen (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · ro stinge (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · aii ܡܲܟ̰ܡܸܥ (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · de auslöschen (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · hu elfojt (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · rm stüder (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · es extinguir (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · evn сими (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · gl matar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · la perimō (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · lt užgesinti (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · arz طفى (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · qu thasnuy (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · lij amortâ (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · vi dập tắt (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ca apagar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · mi whakanoa (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · is slökkva (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ug ئۆچۈرمەك (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · nl blussen (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · rar tinai (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · oc esténger (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · mi tinetinei (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · mi whakaweto (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · hi बुझाना (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · cmn 熄滅 /熄灭 (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ar أَطْفَأَ (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · uz oʻchirmoq (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · fr éteindre (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · as নুমুৱা (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · de auslöschen (to bring about the extinction of (a conditioned reflex)) · th ดับ (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · oc esténher (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · pl ugasić (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · haw kinai (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · fi himmentää (to eclipse or obscure (someone or something) — see also eclipse, obscure) · la exstinguō (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ty tīnai (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · fur distudâ (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ny kuzímitsa (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · nl verduisteren (to eclipse or obscure (someone or something) — see also eclipse, obscure) · pl zgasić (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ru cкрывать (to eclipse or obscure (someone or something) — see also eclipse, obscure) · he כיבה (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · lt gesinti (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ug يوقالماق (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · txb käs- (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · sv utsläcka (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · izh sammuttaa (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · bg гася (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · uz yoʻq qilmoq (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · eu itzali (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · yi אויסלעשן (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ja 鎮火する (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · sv släcka (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · tr söndürmek (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · fi sammuttaa (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · bg унищожавам (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · mi whakapoko (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · as নুমুউৱা (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · rup astingu (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ug يوقاتماق (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · ja 絶やす (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · no slukke (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · rm stizar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · it estinguere (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · el σβήνω (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · chr ᎬᏜᏗᎭ (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · oc atudar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · gl atafegar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · de löschen (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · gd smàil (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ckb ئیبادەت (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · nl doven (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · sq shuj (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ru гаси́ть (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · hy մարել (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ca extingir (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · lij amortâ (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · nl uitdoven (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · te ఆర్పు (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · grc σβέννυμι (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · mi poko (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · pl stłumić (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · sw kuzima (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · da udslukke (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · da slukke (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · eo estingi (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ru уничтожить (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · la dēflammō (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ru потуши́ть (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · cmn 撲滅 /扑灭 (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · da slukke (to put an end to (something) completely — see also annihilate, destroy) · bg потушавам (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · pl stłumić (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · fo sløkkja (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · pt apagar (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · dlm stotur (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · pt extinguir (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · tr öçürmek (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · ru туши́ть (to stop (fire, etc.) from burning; to stop (light, etc.) from shining — see also put out, quench) · fi sammuttaa (to bring about the extinction of (a conditioned reflex))