Extinguish vs. Distinguish — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 5, 2024
Extinguish involves putting out something like a fire or light, whereas distinguish can mean recognizing differences or achieving eminence.
Difference Between Extinguish and Distinguish
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Extinguish is primarily associated with the act of putting out a fire, a light, or ceasing something to exist, reflecting a sense of termination. Whereas, distinguish carries the dual meaning of identifying the differences between two or more items or standing out due to exceptional qualities.
When it comes to their application, extinguish is often used in contexts related to safety, emergencies, and the cessation of flames or lights. On the other hand, distinguish finds its use more in intellectual, academic, and social contexts, emphasizing discernment and recognition.
Extinguish is about action, specifically the action of making something cease to exist or operate, like extinguishing a candle signifies the candle’s light is put out. Meanwhile, to distinguish something involves cognitive effort, like distinguishing between two similar species requires knowledge and attention to detail.
In emergency procedures, the term extinguish is crucial, highlighting immediate, decisive actions to prevent harm, such as using a fire extinguisher. Distinguish, however, plays a key role in decision-making and analysis, such as distinguishing between harmful and benign substances in a lab.
While extinguish implies an end or a conclusion, such as extinguishing a campfire ensures safety, distinguish suggests a process or a continuation, such as distinguishing oneself in a career implies ongoing effort and achievement.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To put out a fire, light, or stop something from existing.
To recognize the difference between things; to stand out.
Context of Use
Safety, emergencies, cessation.
Intellectual pursuits, recognition, social standing.
Nature of Action
Physical or metaphorical action to end or cease.
Cognitive effort to identify differences or achieve eminence.
Examples
Extinguishing a blaze, extinguishing a light.
Distinguishing between twins, distinguishing oneself.
Outcome
Termination or conclusion.
Recognition or differentiation.
Compare with Definitions
Extinguish
To erase or remove completely.
The solution was designed to extinguish all traces of the virus.
Distinguish
To recognize or treat as different.
It’s important to distinguish between facts and opinions.
Extinguish
To abolish or put an end to (something).
The new policy aims to extinguish the old practices.
Distinguish
To mark as different.
The law distinguishes between premeditated and spontaneous acts.
Extinguish
To kill or destroy completely.
The invasive species was extinguished to protect the ecosystem.
Distinguish
To classify or categorize.
This system is used to distinguish different types of rocks.
Extinguish
To put out (a fire or light).
Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the wildfire.
Distinguish
To make prominent or renowned.
Her contributions to science distinguished her among her peers.
Extinguish
To diminish or fade away.
The stars seem to extinguish as dawn approaches.
Distinguish
To perceive or point out a difference.
He can distinguish the various bird calls easily.
Extinguish
To cause (a fire or light) to stop burning or shining; put out.
Distinguish
Recognize or treat (someone or something) as different
The child is perfectly capable of distinguishing reality from fantasy
Extinguish
To put an end to or make extinct; destroy
"Her death extinguished the dream of family that was closest to his heart" (Karen Lystra).
Distinguish
Manage to discern (something barely perceptible)
It was too dark to distinguish anything more than their vague shapes
Extinguish
(Psychology) To bring about the extinction of (a conditioned response).
Distinguish
Make oneself worthy of respect by one's behaviour or achievements
Many distinguished themselves in the fight against Hitler
Extinguish
(transitive) To put out, as in fire; to end burning; to quench.
Distinguish
To perceive as being different or distinct
Can you distinguish a pattern in this behavior?.
Extinguish
(transitive) To destroy or abolish something.
She extinguished all my hopes.
They intended to extinguish the enemy by force of numbers
Distinguish
To perceive distinctly; discern
The lookout distinguished the masts of ships on the horizon.
Extinguish
(transitive) To obscure or eclipse something.
The rays of the sun were extinguished by the thunder clouds.
A beauty that extinguishes all others by comparison
Distinguish
To demonstrate or describe as being different or distinct
A scientist who distinguished four species of the plant.
Extinguish
To bring about the extinction of a conditioned reflex.
Many patients can extinguish their phobias after a few months of treatment.
Distinguish
To be an identifying characteristic of; make noticeable or different
These spices distinguish this style of Asian cooking.
Extinguish
To hunt down (a species) to extinction.
Distinguish
To cause (oneself) to be respected or eminent
They have distinguished themselves as dedicated social workers.
Extinguish
(intransitive) To die out.
Distinguish
To perceive or indicate differences; discriminate
Can the child distinguish between right and wrong?.
Extinguish
(transitive) To kill.
Distinguish
To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics.
Extinguish
To quench; to put out, as a light or fire; to stifle; to cause to die out; to put an end to; to destroy; as, to extinguish a flame, or life, or love, or hope, a pretense or a right.
A light which the fierce winds have no power to extinguish.
This extinguishes my right to the reversion.
Distinguish
To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.
Extinguish
To obscure; to eclipse, as by superior splendor.
Natural graces that extinguish art.
Distinguish
To make oneself noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.
The soldier distinguished himself in combat and received a medal.
Extinguish
Put an end to; kill;
The Nazis snuffed out the life of many Jewish children
Distinguish
To make to differ.
Extinguish
Put out, as of fires, flames, or lights;
Too big to be extinguished at once, the forest fires at best could be contained
Quench the flames
Snuff out the candles
Distinguish
Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.
Not more distinguished by her purple vest,Than by the charming features of her face.
Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine.
Extinguish
Extinguish by crushing;
Stub out your cigar
Distinguish
To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low.
Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth.
Extinguish
Kill in large numbers;
The plague wiped out an entire population
Distinguish
To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum.
We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood.
Nor more can you distinguish of a man,Than of his outward show.
Distinguish
To constitute a difference; to make to differ.
Who distinguisheth thee?
Distinguish
To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; - with by or for.
Distinguish
To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; - with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.
Distinguish
To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible.
The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot.
Distinguish
Mark as different;
We distinguish several kinds of maple
Distinguish
Detect with the senses;
The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards
I can't make out the faces in this photograph
Distinguish
Be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense;
His modesty distinguishes him form his peers
Distinguish
Make conspicuous or noteworthy
Distinguish
Identify as in botany or biology, for example
Common Curiosities
Is distinguishing between things always easy?
Not always. Distinguishing between things can sometimes require expertise or close observation, especially when differences are subtle.
Can distinguish be used in everyday situations?
Yes, distinguish can be used in everyday situations, like distinguishing between flavors in a dish.
What does it mean to distinguish oneself?
To distinguish oneself means to stand out as exceptional or noteworthy due to one’s actions or qualities.
How do firefighters extinguish fires?
Firefighters extinguish fires using water, foam, or other fire retardants to stop the flames.
Can technologies help in distinguishing?
Yes, technologies like machine learning and AI can help in distinguishing patterns, images, and data more efficiently than humans.
Can the same person extinguish and distinguish?
Yes, a person can extinguish a fire and distinguish themselves in a field, reflecting their practical skills and achievements.
Are extinguish and distinguish interchangeable?
No, extinguish and distinguish are not interchangeable as they convey different meanings.
Can extinguish be used figuratively?
Yes, extinguish can be used figuratively to mean ending or reducing something, like extinguishing hope.
What’s the importance of being able to distinguish?
Being able to distinguish is important for making informed decisions and understanding the world more clearly.
What role does distinguishing play in education?
Distinguishing plays a crucial role in education by helping students understand differences between concepts, theories, and facts.
What does it mean to extinguish a fire?
To extinguish a fire means to put it out or stop it from burning.
Is distinguishing a natural talent or a learned skill?
Distinguishing can be both a natural talent and a learned skill, depending on the context and the individual.
Can animals distinguish between humans?
Yes, many animals can distinguish between humans based on visual cues, scents, or sounds.
How does extinguishing a fire contribute to safety?
Extinguishing a fire prevents it from spreading and causing further damage or harm.
What happens if a fire is not extinguished properly?
If a fire is not extinguished properly, it can reignite, potentially leading to more severe fires and damage.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
