extinguish a fire vs put out a fire

Both phrases, 'extinguish a fire' and 'put out a fire,' are correct and commonly used in English. They are interchangeable and mean the same thing, which is to make a fire stop burning. There is no significant difference between the two phrases.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1222 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"extinguish a fire"

This phrase means to make a fire stop burning. It is often used in formal contexts or technical discussions.

Examples:

Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the fire in the building.
The fire department used special equipment to extinguish the forest fire.
It took hours to extinguish the fire that had broken out in the factory.

Show examples from the web [+]

We are trying to extinguish a fire and are suffocating in the smoke.
In a worst-case future scenario... a space station crew is unable to quickly extinguish a fire.
.9 Paint lockers and flammable liquid lockers shall be protected by an approved fire-extinguishing arrangement, enabling the crew to extinguish a fire without entering the space.
means to automatically extinguish a fire occurring in each disposal receptacle.
And, remember, do not attempt to extinguish a chemical fire with water.
Examples would be satellites and other leading technologies for prevention, detection and help to extinguish fires.
We dispatched equipment to pump water and to extinguish fires.
Many forests are located in the least densely populated areas, and the Member States do not always have all the resources available to extinguish fires quickly and effectively.
And these are for fire extinguishers... so that if there is a fire behind one of these panels... you can put an extinguisher in there to extinguish the fire.
However, this flammable and toxic gas could endanger the lives of drivers in the event of a head-on collision between vehicles or even injure firemen trying to extinguish fires caused by a car accident.
I want to extinguish that fire forever.
The regions have agreed to cooperate on measures to extinguish forest fires in border areas.
Extinguish that fire and get out of here.
Gas is used to extinguish fires and, like fire, is a source of greenhouse gas, so the effects of both the gas and the emissions from the fire must be evaluated.
The acute shortages of specialised forest fire fighters and of land and airborne resources and the lack of a plan to prevent and extinguish fires are the product of the deliberate policy of successive New Democracy and PASOK governments.
The fire brigade will be asked to extinguish fires faster; medical personnel will be asked to treat people more attentively; policemen will be asked to arrest criminals more effectively and teachers to teach children better.
All extinguishers shall be suitable to extinguish fires in electrical systems of up to 1000 V.';
Extinguish the fire, Mr. Fire Chief.
Go extinguish the fire on "Man"!
How can we extinguish the fires of conflict and civil war in these developing countries?

Alternatives:

put out a fire
quench a fire
douse a fire
snuff out a fire
smother a fire

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"put out a fire"

This phrase also means to make a fire stop burning. It is a more common and informal way of expressing the action of extinguishing a fire.

Examples:

The firefighters managed to put out the fire before it spread to other buildings.
He used a fire extinguisher to put out the small fire in the kitchen.
The quick response of the fire department helped to put out the wildfire.

Show examples from the web [+]

Whole town pulls together To put out a fire.
Great, you can put out a fire.
We're diving to put out a fire.
The best way to put out a fire is to starve it of oxygen.
Great, you can put out a fire.
Who believed that I could put out a fire by myself.
I'm getting a medal at school because I put out a fire.
I've got to put out a fire.
Dr. Nesbit delivered her right before he put out a fire.
We thought we'd have to put out a fire.
Then why put out a fire with gunpowder today?
Who says engine only knows how to put out a fire?
Out of the way. I have to put out a fire.
and drinking enough perhaps to put out a fire like this?
Only water can put out a fire - so, when you want to clean and heal yourself, use water.
Well stop looking because they are right here... Good Luck and happy reading..."Water Brigade" For their first high priority assignment, your unit must put out a fire that is destroying civilian crops!
Did you put out a fire?
I put out a fire.
We must get away from the idea that we are rushing to put out a fire in one corner, only then to have to rush again to put out the next one.
Nothing can put out a fire like that.

Alternatives:

extinguish a fire
quench a fire
douse a fire
snuff out a fire
smother a fire

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extinguish a fire vs put out a fire