# quench

/ˈkwɛntʃ/ (US) · /kwˈɛntʃ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/quench
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to satisfy a strong desire or need, especially for something like water or food. It can also mean to cool something down by putting it in a liquid.

For teachers: to satisfy a strong desire or need, particularly for water or food; to cool a substance by immersion in a liquid. Often used in the passive voice to describe the cooling of metals.

## Examples

- The cold water will quench my thirst.
- The team's victory finally quenched the fans' frustration after a long season of losses.
- To quench the intense heat of the molten metal, the blacksmith plunged the blade into a vat of oil, ensuring the rapid cooling process did not cause it to crack.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.