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stub out

B1 neutral separable transitive

To extinguish a cigarette or similar item by pressing the burning end firmly against a surface.

In plain English

Press a cigarette against something hard to put it out.

What does "stub out" mean?

One main meaning — here's how to use it.

1 B1 neutral

To put out a cigarette, cigar, or similar item by pressing the lit end firmly against a hard surface such as an ashtray.

"He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and stood up to leave."

She stubbed out her cigarette and immediately lit another.

— Ian Fleming, Casino Royale (1953)
separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To stub (press firmly) something out — pressing the burning tip of a cigarette into a surface until the fire goes out.

Actually means

Press a cigarette against something hard to put it out.

Usage tip

Almost exclusively used with cigarettes, cigars, or joints. Very common in everyday British and American English. The image is of pressing (stubbing) the lit end until it goes out.

Words that pair with "stub out"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

cigarette cigar ashtray butt end

How to conjugate "stub out"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
stub out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stubs out
he/she/it
Past simple
stubed out
yesterday
Past participle
stubed out
have + pp
-ing form
stubing out
continuous

Hear "stub out" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "stub out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

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