to douse

Examples

• All

• The firefighters worked tirelessly to douse the raging fire before it spread to nearby homes.

• Douse the lights!

  The Mist (2007)

• We get in, douse the fire and get out.

  Monster House (2006)

• While Morgan had doused the first fire, the real work was still ahead.

  Patrick Boyle

• As night fell, they cleaned up their dishes, doused the fire, and set out toward the border.

  Fiction book (1999)

• The chamber was dark now, for she'd doused the oil lamp.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Douse the lights.

  Posse from Hell (1961)

• The fire department believes the deadfall was doused with gasoline before it was set on fire.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Before the fire could spread, two sailors doused it with buckets of sand.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Mitch pulled the Celebrity around to the alley behind Smith's store and doused the lights.

  Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

P

to put out

vsto douse

114 2.0

Make a fire, light, or cigarette stop burning

is the simpler, more informal word for the same action

B

to blow out

vsto douse

50 2.4

Stop a flame by breathing on it

is the general action but not limited to using breath

S

to snuff

vsto douse

31 5.7

To put out a small flame by covering or pinching it

is the general action but without naming the specific method

E

to extinguish

vsto douse

23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

is a common everyday word rather than the formal term

S

to smother

vsto douse

11 5.3

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

is the general action but does not require cutting off air

S

to snuff out

vsto douse

6 4.7

Stop a flame, candle, or small fire from burning

is a general word that also applies to lights and fires

P

to put out a fire

vsto douse

5 2.5

Stop a fire burning and spreading

is used more generally for lights and small flames

O

to outen

vsto douse

• Archaic

9.9

To put out a fire or light

is the more common modern term rather than this variant

Antonyms

L

to light

905 1.0

To make something start to burn or shine

I

to ignite

66 4.0

To make something start burning

How Extinguished

to extinguish

23 4.4

to smother

11 5.3

to douse

20 5.1

to quench

16 4.2

to blow out

50 2.4

Surface Forms

Etymology