submersion
Americannoun
-
the act of putting oneself or another person or thing under water or into some other enveloping medium.
Swimmers in the class are taught submersion and breath holding, floating, and kicking.
This durable tile is specially made to withstand submersion in swimming pools.
-
the act of subordinating or suppressing something.
Critics talked about the film’s submersion of individual character within a vision of group solidarity.
Etymology
Origin of submersion
First recorded in 1400–50; from Late Latin submersiōn-, stem of submersiō, also summersiō “a sinking,” from Latin submers(us) “sunk” (past participle of submergere “to dip under, immerse, sink”) + -iō -ion ( def. )
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.
Early land art, like Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty,” now serves as a warning about climate change due to its increasing submersion and re-emergence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026
It includes a small pool of fresh, unchlorinated water and another of specially formulated salt water, both deep enough for full submersion.
From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025
“I Saw the TV Glow” captures this obsessive, anticipatory submersion in a long-form weekly TV show, to the point where it ignites the same feeling.
From New York Times • May 2, 2024
"Drowning contributes due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness; coronary artery disease contributes due to exacerbation of ketamine induced myocardial effects on the heart."
From BBC • Dec. 15, 2023
“Beyond doubt that he was alive at the time of submersion? Is that what it says, Horace?”
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
