- 1smother somebody (with something) to kill someone by covering their face so that they cannot breathe synonym suffocate He smothered the baby with a pillow. to be smothered to death
- 2smother something/somebody with/in something to cover something or someone thickly or with too much of something a rich dessert smothered in cream She smothered him with kisses.
- 3smother something to prevent something from developing or being expressed synonym stifle to smother a yawn/giggle/grin The voices of the opposition were effectively smothered.
- 4smother somebody to give someone too much love or protection so that they feel restricted Her husband was very loving, but she felt smothered.
- 5smother something to make a fire stop burning by covering it with something He tried to smother the flames with a blanket.
smother
verbNAmE//ˈsmʌðər//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they smother he / she / it smothers
past simple smothered
-ing form smothering
Check pronunciation: smother