drown
verb (used without object)
to die under water or other liquid of suffocation.
was drowning
-
past progressiveof drown.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Spirit was Boeing’s sole-source supplier for nearly all the products Spirit sold to it, and Spirit itself was drowning in losses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
By Yu’s own admission, he was drowning in work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2026
A new award for best traditional country album has been added, after some in Nashville felt that the more modern pop-country sound was drowning out artists with a more pure country sound.
From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026
“It has drained away that fluid of grief that was drowning me, killing me,” he tells Myrna, who politely declines his invitation for a second date.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2025
By the time they were in fifth grade, Josie felt like she was drowning in them.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
