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🍋 To squeeze out 🧩 To form by pressing 🚬 To put out
to press out

to press out

3.4
To stop something burning by crushing it
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : apagar
  • After finishing the cigarette, he pressed out the glowing embers in the ashtray.

Examples

  • To ensure safety, she pressed out the flames with her shoe.

  • He quickly pressed out the cigarette to avoid the smell of smoke.

  • She says that she presses her hair out.

    Blog text (12)

Synonyms

to crush
vsto press out
401 1.6

To press something hard so it breaks or loses its shape

applies squeezing to stop burning rather than to destroy objects
to put out
vsto press out
114 2.0

Make a fire, light, or cigarette stop burning

does this by flattening the burning end against a surface rather than other ways
to blow out
vsto press out
50 2.4

Stop a flame by breathing on it

uses flattening on a surface rather than using moving air
to snuff
vsto press out
31 5.7

To put out a small flame by covering or pinching it

stops burning by flattening against a surface rather than by pinching
to extinguish
vsto press out
23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

does this specifically by flattening the burning tip on a surface
to stamp
vsto press out
20 4.3

To press something hard with your foot or a tool to crush it

stops burning by flattening with surface contact not broad force
to stamp out
vsto press out
13 4.2

To stop something completely using strong action

is broader, ending things generally rather than stopping burning physically
to smother
vsto press out
11 5.3

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

stops burning by flattening the burning end on a surface rather than blocking air
to snuff out
vsto press out
6 4.7

Stop a flame, candle, or small fire from burning

does the same but by flattening the burning end against a surface
to put out a fire
vsto press out
5 2.5

Stop a fire burning and spreading

applies flattening of the burning part rather than general firefighting methods
to stub out
vsto press out
  • Informal
3 5.3

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

uses downward force on the object rather than other methods
to stub
vsto press out
1 4.0

To press a cigarette or small flame against a hard surface to put it out

uses downward surface contact to stop burning instead of other ways
to crush out
vsto press out
1 4.0

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

uses downward force to stop burning by flattening on a surface
to outen
vsto press out
  • Archaic
9.9

To put out a fire or light

does this by flattening the burning end on a surface rather than general actions

Antonyms

to light
905 1.0

To make something start to burn or shine

to ignite
66 4.0

To make something start burning

How Forceful

to stamp out
13 4.2
to press out
3.4
to smother
11 5.3
to blow out
50 2.4

Surface Forms

press out infinitive
pressed out past
pressed out past participle
pressing out present participle
presses out third person singular

Morphology

press + out

The meaning 'to extinguish by crushing' is directly inferable from 'press' (apply pressure) combined with the particle 'out' (indicating cessation or removal of the burning state); a B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably infer pressing something until it is 'out'. This follows common verb+particle composition patterns in English (e.g., 'put out') and is thus predictably compositional rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Press out comes from the action of crushing a cigarette or a small ember so the burning tip is pressed down and the flame goes out. So, it means 'to put out a small fire or burning thing by crushing it'.