immerse

[ih-murs]

verb (used with object)

immersed, immersing 

1. to plunge into or place under a liquid; dip; sink.

   Synonyms: douse, duck, immerge

2. to involve deeply; absorb.

   She is totally immersed in her law practice.

   Synonyms: engage

3. to baptize by immersion.

4. to embed; bury.

   Antonyms: disinter

immerse

/ ɪˈmɜːs /

verb

1. (often foll by in) to plunge or dip into liquid

2. to involve deeply; engross

   to immerse oneself in a problem

3. to baptize by immersion

Other Word Forms

• immersible adjective
• reimmerse verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of immerse¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin immersus “plunged, sunken into,” past participle of immergere “to dip, plunge, sink into”; immerge

Word History and Origins

Origin of immerse¹

C17: from Latin immergere, from _im- (in) + mergere to dip

Synonym Study

See dip ¹.

Example Sentences

“All of the routes and the things that make up great receivers, I just get fully immersed in it,” Adams said, adding, “It wasn’t nothing crazy. … It wasn’t a big show.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

People who are immersed in AI often have some surprisingly old-fashioned work habits.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I bought an Indian rail pass, which for $530 offered 90 days of unlimited train travel, more than enough, I thought, to immerse myself in the bloodstream of the country.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Georgia had trained as a midwife, immersing herself in the world she feared she could never be part of.

Read more on BBC

Having spent two decades immersed in British basketball, Steutel has experienced the best and worst of the sport - but even he admits the last few months have tested him in ways he never expected.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• baptize 
• bathe 
• bury 
• drench 
• drown 
• saturate 
• soak 
• steep