According to the Merriam Webster online dictionary ‘Smothering’ is:

1: to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes
2 a: to kill by depriving of air b: to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air c: to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen
3 a: to cause to smolder b: to suppress expression or knowledge of <smothered his rage> c: to stop or prevent the growth or activity of <smother a child with too much care> ; also : overwhelm d: to cover thickly : blanket <snow smothered the trails> e: to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively4: to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat Source

However as good as the dictionary is it does not answer the widly asked question “How To Not Smother?”.

As smothering effectively involves inhibiting the ability for air to reach places that it needs to, for example your lungs, not smothering is simply a matter of making sure that there is still a way for air to reach it’s needed destination.

This could involve using a pillow with holes to only fake smother the desired target. or making sure that you use less sand than needed to extinguish (thus not smothering) an out of control fire.