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Glite Dictionary
🚬 To put out 💻 To fake for testing
to stub out

to stub out

3 5.3
To press the burning end of a cigarette against a surface to put it out
  • phrasal verb
  • /stʌb aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : apagar
  • She stubbed out her cigarette on the sidewalk and walked away.
  • stubbed out a cigarette
  • stubbed out a cigar

Examples

  • It's never really over, right?" She stubbed out her cigarette and gave me her big flashy smile.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray before entering the building.

  • As soon as Rocky sees us, he stubs out his cigarette and turns off the car radio.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The pair squinted up at me, then stubbed out cigarettes and rose to leave.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Devaney, who has been sitting alone in the living room, stubs out a cigarette and stands to meet him.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Nicolai shifted lower in his chair, reached down to the floor, and stubbed out his cigarette.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Peter stands, stubs out his smoke, drops a few crumpled bills on the bar, and grabs his hat.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • George watches Marjorie stub out her cigarette on the windowsill and cross her strong, thick arms.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Galvanized, she stubbed out her cigarette in the sink, switched on the percolator, and picked up the phone.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Erin cast a covetous glance at her friend's hair, then stubbed out her cigarette and flicked the butt away.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

to put out
vsto stub out
114 2.0

Make a fire, light, or cigarette stop burning

is narrower focusing on pressing the burning end against a surface
to blow out
vsto stub out
50 2.4

Stop a flame by breathing on it

is about pressing the burning end against a surface not blowing air
to snuff
vsto stub out
31 5.7

To put out a small flame by covering or pinching it

uses pressing the tip against a surface rather than pinching or covering
to extinguish
vsto stub out
23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

is the specific action pressing the burning end against a surface to stop it
to snuff out
vsto stub out
6 4.7

Stop a flame, candle, or small fire from burning

is specifically about putting a burning tip against a surface to stop it
to stub
vsto stub out
1 4.0

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

has identical meaning but appears as a phrasal verb rather than a single word
to crush out
vsto stub out
1 4.0

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

is the same but stresses pressing the tip against a surface rather than crushing
to press out
vsto stub out
3.4

To stop something burning by crushing it

is focused on pressing the burning end against a surface rather than general crushing
to outen
vsto stub out
  • Archaic
9.9

To put out a fire or light

is instead about pressing the burning tip against a surface to extinguish

Antonyms

to light
905 1.0

To make something start to burn or shine

How Thorough

to douse
20 5.1
to extinguish
23 4.4
to snuff out
6 4.7
to stub out
  • Informal
3 5.3

Surface Forms

stub out infinitive
stubbed out past
stubbed out past participle
stubbing out present participle
stubs out third person singular

Morphology

stub + out

The software sense of 'stub out' (to replace or provide a temporary placeholder implementation) is a specialized technical meaning that cannot be inferred from the literal verb 'stub' (to extinguish a cigarette) plus 'out'. The MWE derives from programming jargon (noun 'stub' = placeholder) and is not a transparent compositional extension of the given constituent senses, so a B1 learner knowing the literal words would not predict this meaning.

Etymology

Stub out comes from the simple action of pressing the burning end, or stub, of a cigarette against a hard surface to put it out. That's why stub out means 'to extinguish' a cigarette or similar small fire.