engulf
verb (used with object)
to swallow up in or as in a gulf; submerge.
were engulfing
-
past progressiveof engulf.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.
Spanish police published footage of flooded fields and torrents of water that were engulfing buildings and vehicles.
From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026
The pangrams from yesterday’s Spelling Bee were engulfing, fueling, funneling and unfeeling.
From New York Times ● Jan. 6, 2023
I think that we both had complex mothers who were engulfing and smothering and toxic and difficult to navigate at times.
From Slate ● Mar. 26, 2018
That feeling had started to fray, then wilt, and now suspicion and fear were engulfing street corners in bitter protests and harsh words all over the country.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 22, 2017
Katya died like a true Soviet fighter pilot, first filling an enemy fighter with bullets before using expert flight techniques to put out the flames that were engulfing her own plane.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
