Suffocate

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌfəˌkeɪt/

Definitions of suffocate

verb to kill or die from lack of air or inability to breathe

Example Sentences

A1 The baby started to suffocate when he accidentally covered his face with a blanket.

A2 She felt like she was suffocating in the crowded room with no windows.

B1 The smoke from the fire was so thick that it made it hard to breathe, causing many people to suffocate.

B2 The lack of oxygen at high altitudes can make climbers feel like they are suffocating.

C1 The dictator's oppressive regime suffocated any form of dissent, leading to a climate of fear and silence.

C2 The overbearing rules and regulations suffocated the creativity of the employees, resulting in a lack of innovation in the company.

Examples of suffocate in a Sentence

formal The lack of ventilation in the room caused the person to suffocate.

informal I can't breathe in this crowded elevator, I feel like I'm suffocating.

slang This heat is suffocating, I need to get some air.

figurative The strict rules at the school suffocate any sense of creativity among the students.

Grammatical Forms of suffocate

• past tense: suffocated
• plural: suffocates
• comparative: more suffocating
• superlative: most suffocating
• present tense: suffocate
• future tense: will suffocate
• perfect tense: have suffocated
• continuous tense: is suffocating
• singular: suffocates
• positive degree: suffocate
• infinitive: to suffocate
• gerund: suffocating
• participle: suffocated

Origin and Evolution of suffocate

First Known Use: 0015 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'suffocate' originated from the Latin word 'suffocare', which means to stifle or smother.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'suffocate' has retained its original meaning of being deprived of air or unable to breathe, but it has also come to be used metaphorically to describe feeling overwhelmed or stifled in a situation.