Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

submerged

American  
[suhb-murjd] / səbˈmɜrdʒd /

adjective

  1. under the surface of water or any other enveloping medium; inundated.

  2. hidden, covered, or unknown.

    There are many submerged facts which could have a bearing on the case.

  3. poverty-stricken; destitute; impoverished.

    a program to aid the submerged socioeconomic groups.


submerged British  
/ səbˈmɜːdʒd, səbˈmɜːst /

adjective

  1. (of plants or plant parts) growing beneath the surface of the water

  2. hidden; obscured

  3. overwhelmed or overburdened

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of submerged

First recorded in 1790–1800; submerge + -ed 2

Explanation

When something is submerged, it's under water — like a submarine, a car caught in a flood, or your feet in a wading pool. Use the adjective submerged to describe something that stays under the surface of the water. The flood in your basement might cause your exercise equipment to be submerged, and you probably snorkel with your face submerged. You can also use submerged to describe something that's covered up. For example, you might try to keep your sad feelings about your dog's death submerged when you're with your friends.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing submerged

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.

To float, people should tilt their head backwards until their ears are submerged and, crucially, not panic.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Doggerland once formed a land bridge connecting Britain to mainland Europe before rising sea levels submerged it, creating the modern North Sea.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

In Nyakach, in the west, children walked through knee-high water and residents scooped water from inundated houses -- though some were submerged up to the roof.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

Rapid improvements are making Beijing’s underwater navy quieter and faster, capable of carrying more advanced weapons and better sensors and able to remain submerged for longer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

His legs are submerged in the bay, and he, too, is sinking, but he reaches out and grabs her hand.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "submerged" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com