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Glite Dictionary
🕯️ To extinguish 💡 To break (device) 🛢️ To erupt (well)
to blow out

to blow out

64 2.4
Stop a flame by breathing on it
  • phrasal verb
  • /bloʊ aʊt/
: apagar
  • Make a wish before you blow out the candles on your birthday cake.
  • blow out the candles
  • blow out the match
  • blow out the flame

I was asked just now by Doubly Magazine to blow out the candles.

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Examples

Synonyms

to put out
vsto blow out
181 2.0

Make a fire, light, or cigarette stop burning

does this by a breath or puff
to snuff
vsto blow out
39 5.7

To put out a small flame by covering or pinching it

does this by a breath or puff
to extinguish
vsto blow out
39 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

does this by a breath or puff
to quench
vsto blow out
22 4.2

To stop thirst by drinking or to put out a fire by cooling it

does this by a breath or puff
to douse
vsto blow out
17 5.1

To stop a fire or light from burning

does this by a breath or puff
to put out a fire
vsto blow out
7 2.5

Stop a fire burning and spreading

does this by a breath or puff
to smother
vsto blow out
6 5.3

To stop a small fire by covering it so it has no air

does this by a breath or puff
to stub out
vsto blow out
  • Informal
4 5.3

To press the burning end of a cigarette against a surface to put it out

does this by a breath or puff
to snuff out
vsto blow out
4 4.7

Stop a flame, candle, or small fire from burning

does this by a breath or puff
to crush out
vsto blow out
2 4.0

To press a small burning thing so it stops burning, for example a cigarette

does this by a breath or puff
to outen
vsto blow out
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To put out a fire or light

does this by a breath or puff
to press out
vsto blow out
3.4

To stop something burning by crushing it

does this by a breath or puff

Antonyms

to light
829 1.0

To make something start to burn or shine

to ignite
69 4.0

To make something start burning

How Effective

to douse
17 5.1
to smother
6 5.3
to snuff out
4 4.7
to blow out
64 2.4

Surface Forms

blow out infinitive
blew out past
blown out past participle
blowing out present participle
blows out third person singular

Morphology

blow + out

The sense 'to erupt forcefully' is directly derivable from 'blow' (to expel or move with force) combined with 'out' (outward/completely), so the image of something bursting or being expelled outward is compositional. This motion/force + particle pattern is common in English (e.g. 'blew out a tyre', 'blew out a candle') and is likely recoverable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Blow out comes from the simple act of blowing air to stop a flame: you lean over and blow the candles out, and the fire goes out. That's why the phrase means 'to extinguish' a light or flame.