to make a hissing or bubbling sound - (often followed by out)
to fail or die out, esp after a promising start
a hissing or bubbling sound; fizz an outright failure; fiasco
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fiz•zle /ˈfɪzəl/USA pronunciation
v., -zled, -zling, n.
v. [no object]
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v. [no object]
- to make a hissing or sputtering sound:The wet match fizzled for a moment before expiring.
- Informal Terms[ ~ (+ out)] to fail or expire feebly after a good start:The enthusiasm soon fizzled (out).
n. [countable]
- an instance of fizzling:The hot coals made a fizzle as they hit the water.
- Informal Termsa failure;
fiasco:The play was a fizzle.
fiz•zle
(fiz′əl),USA pronunciation v., -zled, -zling, n.
v.i.
n.
v.i.
- to make a hissing or sputtering sound, esp. one that dies out weakly.
- Informal Termsto fail ignominiously after a good start (often fol. by out):The reform movement fizzled out because of poor leadership.
n.
- a fizzling, hissing, or sputtering.
- Informal Termsa failure;
fiasco.
- Old Norse fīsa to break wind; akin to feist
- earlier fysel to break wind, frequentative of *fise 1525–35
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged miscarry, collapse, founder.
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