WordGarden.iosmother
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /smˈʌðə/
US
- /ˈsməðər/
Meanings
Verb
to make a person or animal unable to breathe by covering the nose or mouth or cutting off air
to cover something thickly or completely
to overwhelm someone with too much affection, attention, or controlling care
More meaningsFewer meanings
to suppress or hold back a feeling, reaction, idea, or development
Beyond the definition
To smother something is not always about taking away air, though it can be. It means to cover or surround something completely, often so much that it cannot breathe, burn, grow, or be expressed freely. You might smother a campfire by piling on too much dirt, or a controlling parent might smother a child with too much protection. Figuratively, you can smother someone with affection or smother a good idea with harsh criticism. Think of a heavy blanket pressed down over something. That is the basic feeling of the word.
The word "smother" carries a strong image: to cover something so completely that it is choked, put out, held back, or kept from being seen or heard. In the most literal sense, it can mean stopping a person or animal from breathing by covering them, or stopping a fire by cutting off its air. In both cases, the idea is the same: something is so fully covered that it can no longer continue normally.
In a social context, "smother" often describes giving someone too much attention, affection, or control. A well-meaning relative might smother a child with gifts and constant supervision, making it harder for the child to grow independent. You can also smother a sound or reaction, like smothering a laugh by covering your mouth or smothering a yawn during a long meeting.
Figuratively, "smother" means to suppress or hide something so that it does not grow or attract notice. "He tried to smother his anger" suggests an active effort to hide a strong feeling. In the same way, people may try to smother a rumor, a protest, or a scandal by keeping others from hearing about it.
The word also appears in cooking. To smother meat, potatoes, or vegetables such as onions means to cook them slowly while covered, usually with a little liquid, fat, or sauce. The food is almost "covered over" by heat, moisture, and flavor.
Whether it is a flame being put out, a person being overwhelmed, an emotion being held in, or food being cooked under cover, "smother" usually suggests complete coverage and loss of freedom to act naturally.
Examples
- 1
Fire safety
Put a lid on the pan to smother the flames.
- 2
Smoke danger
The thick smoke nearly smothered us before we reached the door.
- 3
Suppressed reaction
She smothered a laugh when she saw his expression.
- Phrasesmother a laugh
stop yourself from laughing out loud
- 4
Affection
His mother smothered him with kisses before he left for camp.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Overprotection
Try not to smother the children; they need some freedom to make mistakes.
- Patternsmother + person
control or protect them too much
- 6
Heavy covering
By morning, the whole town was smothered in snow.
- Patternsmothered in + substance
completely covered by a lot of it
- 7
Food topping
He ordered a burger smothered in onions and gravy.
- 8
Overwhelming attention
She felt smothered by all the attention after the article was published.
- Patternfeel smothered by + attention/pressure
feel overwhelmed because it is too much
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- smother someone with a pillow
Word family
Explore
- oxygen deprivation
- airway obstruction
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- smothernounverb
Forms
- smotheredpast tenseverbnoun
- smothering-ing formverbnoun
- smothersverbnoun