drown
Americanverb (used without object)
-
drowns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
drowned,
past participle, past
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drowning
present participle
verb (used with object)
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drowns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
drowned,
past participle, past
-
drowning
present participle
-
to kill by submerging under water or other liquid.
-
to destroy or get rid of by, or as if by, immersion.
He drowned his sorrows in drink.
-
to flood or inundate.
-
to overwhelm so as to render inaudible, as by a louder sound (often followed byout ).
-
to add too much water or liquid to (a drink, food, or the like).
-
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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drownsimple
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drownssimple
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have drownedperfect
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has drownedperfect
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am drowningprogressive
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are drowningprogressive
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is drowningprogressive
-
have been drowningperfect progressive
-
has been drowningperfect progressive
Past
-
drownedsimple
-
had drownedperfect
-
was drowningprogressive
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were drowningprogressive
-
had been drowningperfect progressive
Future
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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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.
See Examples For:
"It's a terrifying way to die - to drown," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
At its simplest, that works by blasting signals to drown out, confuse or supplant an adversary’s communications.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Choi’s advice was to go the other direction: blister them, puree them, drown them in vinegar or chili, add something sweet, blend them into sauces, make them taste like the foods you already crave.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
Secular Israelis were prepared with a counter-protest, blowing whistles to drown out the chants and with some wearing pink lapel buttons showing a middle finger.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
“And we shall drown if we do!” cried the Earthworm.
From "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl
Today, the view takes in one of Europe's largest logistics hubs and key transport routes between Rotterdam and Belgium, the rumble of passing trucks drowns out the birdsong.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026
The bass notes of the girl group’s first single “Debut” echo through the venue, bright stage lights shine on its members and a screaming crowd nearly drowns out their vocals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025
In the play—spoiler alert—Ophelia drowns in a river after her father is murdered by Hamlet, whom she may have been in love with.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
But I have quite enjoyed the platform’s small selection, because it spares me from the paralysis of endless choice that drowns me on Netflix.
From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025
Scoob freezes, heart thumping so fast in his ears, it practically drowns out the sound of the phone.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
The sacred silence of formal dining rooms is being drowned out by bowling alleys and frozen-margarita machines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Of course, Hurts has a cheering section, but their voices are often drowned out by the chorus and echoes of criticism.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
I asked whether he knew the vigil had included testimonies from families in Gaza, which Lenkinski said the protesters had drowned out.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
In November 2021, at least 30 men, women and children drowned when their motorised dinghy deflated and started taking on water halfway between France and the UK.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The Okawa Elementary School, where so many students and teachers drowned, has been dug out of the mud and swept clean.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
But before that it has an image problem to overcome, with many comparing it to "voluntary drowning".
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
GOLDIN: There’s an overriding sense of lack of purposefulness and this drowning in content that you’re constantly being fed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
Threats also remain from strong rip currents and large waves, which increase the risk of ocean drowning and could threaten to capsize small boats near shore.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
A post-mortem examination found that all three women died by drowning, Sussex Police said.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Fortunately, the wind outside was howling even louder, drowning them out.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
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