drown
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to kill by submerging under water or other liquid.
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to destroy or get rid of by, or as if by, immersion.
He drowned his sorrows in drink.
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to flood or inundate.
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to overwhelm so as to render inaudible, as by a louder sound (often followed byout ).
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to add too much water or liquid to (a drink, food, or the like).
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to slake (lime) by covering with water and letting stand.
verb phrase
verb
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to die or kill by immersion in liquid
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(tr) to destroy or get rid of as if by submerging
he drowned his sorrows in drink
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(tr) to drench thoroughly; inundate; flood
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to render (a sound) inaudible by making a loud noise
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of drown
1250–1300; Middle English drounnen, Old English druncnian, perhaps by loss of c between nasals and shift of length from nn to ou
Explanation
The verb drown means to die from inhaling water into the lungs and being unable to breathe. It is possible to drown in even a small amount of water, so it's important to learn proper water safety. You can also use this verb with a direct object: for example, a flash flood might drown animals that live near a river. You can drown things in a less literal way as well. If you drink alcoholic beverages to forget your troubles, for example, you can say you're trying to "drown your sorrows." If you're submerged in a tidal wave of school assignments, then you are "drowning in work."
Vocabulary lists containing drown
"Old World New World" and "The Log of Christopher Columbus"
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Spelling Practice 2, Unit 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We have a wait list of 45 to 50 people,” Drown said.
From Seattle Times • May 23, 2024
“How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water,” by “Dominicana” author Angie Cruz, is a funny, sharp character study set in Manhattan’s Washington Heights.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2022
The metal rockers roared their way through tracks like Drown and Throne during a high-octane, mosh pit inducing co-headliner set.
From BBC • Aug. 28, 2022
The board came up with a program called “No Child Will Drown in Our Town,” offering 10 days of free swimming lessons to anyone who signs up.
From New York Times • Jul. 4, 2022
“A kiss, it’s called. Drown me for a fool, Tris, I should have remembered—” She broke off suddenly.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
