English Reference
Adjective

extinguished

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/ UK /ɛkstˈɪŋɡwɪʃt/ ex·tin·guished

adj.no longer burning or active. You use this to describe a fire that has gone out or a feeling that has completely disappeared.

adj.having been put out or quenched; no longer in a state of combustion or activity. Often used in a participial sense to describe the cessation of light, heat, or intense emotion.


SIMPLE

The campfire is now extinguished and safe to leave.

CONTEXTUAL

Once the fire department arrived, the flames were quickly extinguished before they could reach the neighboring house.

COMPLEX

The hope that had sustained the refugees for months was suddenly extinguished when the border crossing was permanently closed by the military.

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'remain'.

When a single asteroid about six miles in diameter struck the Yucatán peninsula 66m years ago, it is thought to have extinguished three-quarters of all existing species, including the non-avian dinosaurs.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026

The hope here is that this could form an autonomous first response, so forest fire detection and drone activation can be so quick that fires can be extinguished as they're starting.

BBC News· 4 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated