submergence

[ suhb-mur-juhns ]

noun

1. the act of putting or sinking something below the surface of water or any other enveloping medium, or the resulting state:

   This is a record for deepest submergence by a piloted vessel in Indian waters.

2. the act of overflowing and completely covering something with water, or the resulting state:

   Indonesia's coastal areas face the threat of flooding or even submergence due to rises in sea level.

3. the act of burying or suppressing something, or the state of being buried or suppressed:

   The army survives by enormous personal effort and submergence of the individual will for the collective welfare.

Other Words From

• non·sub·mer·gence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of submergence¹

submerge ( def ) + -ence ( def )

Example Sentences

These new places may not get submerged, but for the villagers, they are equally toxic.

From MIT Technology Review

These semi-aquatic herbivores are well-equipped for spending hours each day in the water—their nostrils and eyes located so high on their head that they can breathe and see while mostly submerged.

From Nautilus

The resulting pictures feature both single-hue expanses and half-submerged colors that glimmer below the surface like metallic gravel under a stream.

From Washington Post

In place of a wet, oil-based lube, you submerge the chain in a heated paraffin bath that penetrates into the chain just like oil does.

From Outside Online

Once your showerhead is securely submerged, leave it soaking for 15 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

From Popular-Science

Neither tree nor bush grew upon it; their absence indicating that it was subject to annual submergence in the season of rain.

From Project Gutenberg

The spirit sank to submergence in the body, I remember combating motion like a drugged person.

From Project Gutenberg

Submergence, deposition of Cambrian formations; slight oscillations during their deposition; reduction of land to baselevel.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps it were better stated that submergence was complete in the basins in which Weverton sandstone now appears.

From Project Gutenberg

An overlap proves that a gradual submergence of the land was going on at the time the strata were being accumulated.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deluge
• flash flood
• overabundance
• torrent