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

But Cate Blanchett has taken an unexpected diversion from her day job - to immerse herself in the world of the humble seed.

Read more on BBC

The US pontiff urged the world to rouse itself from "the fatal lethargy in which we are immersed".

Read more on Barron's

He plans to spend the day with his phone on 'do not disturb', potentially immersing himself instead in his rediscovered love of golf at his local club in Paisley.

Read more on BBC

He also is immersed in philanthropy, having founded the nonprofit Vision to Learn, which provides vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to children in low-income communities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"And being immersed in them immediately was amazing, is amazing. It's still amazing."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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