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drown

verb
\ ˈdrau̇n How to pronounce drown (audio) \
drowned\ ˈdrau̇nd How to pronounce drowned (audio) \; drowning\ ˈdrau̇-​niÅ‹ How to pronounce drowning (audio) \

Definition of drown

intransitive verb

: to become drowned fell in the river and drowned chicken drowning in barbecue sauce drowning in paperwork

transitive verb

1a : to suffocate by submersion especially in water
b : to submerge especially by a rise in the water level villages drowned by the flooding river
c : to soak, drench, or cover with a liquid drowns her French fries in ketchup
2 : to engage (oneself) deeply and strenuously drowned himself in work
3 : to cause (a sound) not to be heard by making a loud noise —usually used with out turned up the radio to drown out the noise
4a : to drive out (something, such as a sensation or an idea) drowned his sorrows in liquor
b : overwhelm was drowned in homework
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about drown

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Synonyms & Antonyms for drown

Synonyms

deluge, engulf, flood, gulf, inundate, overflow, overwhelm, submerge, submerse, swamp

Antonyms

drain

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Examples of drown in a Sentence

Four people drowned in the flood. She fell in the river and drowned. She claims that he tried to drown her. He tried to drown himself. The river overflowed, drowning whole villages. The food was drowned in sauce. The loud music drowned the sound of their conversation.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Another man drowned Sunday morning in Lincoln Park, officials said. — Jessica Villagomez, chicagotribune.com, "Man who drowned trying to rescue dog from Lincoln Park South Lagoon identified," 26 Aug. 2019 Olympic skier Bode Miller and his wife Morgan are expecting identical twin boys, just over a year after losing their daughter Emeline in a drowning accident. — Cady Lang, Time, "Olympic Skier Bode Miller and Wife Morgan Announce They Are Expecting Twins," 12 Aug. 2019 In an outing at a beach in Turks and Caicos, three American tourists drowned while two girls in their party were rescued, authorities and local reports said. — Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, "U.S. tourists drown as their children are rescued after being swept to sea," 7 Aug. 2019 Three American adults drowned and two children were rescued from the water while vacationing in Turks and Caicos, island police said. — Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, "Three American tourists drown in Turks and Caicos, two girls rescued from water," 7 Aug. 2019 Two Kasilof men who went canoeing in the Kasilof River on Sunday afternoon drowned, Alaska State Troopers say. — Anchorage Daily News, "Two canoeists drown in Kenai Peninsula river, troopers say," 6 Aug. 2019 An Iowa seminary student honeymooning in Florida drowned when he was swept out to sea on his first time in the ocean, officials said. — CBS News, "Iowa seminary student on Florida honeymoon drowns during first ocean swim," 1 Aug. 2019 Authorities said Marks drowned while riding a personal watercraft. — Carol Robinson | [email protected], al.com, "Alabama suffers 25 boating deaths in 2019, the deadliest year on state waters since 1998," 17 July 2019 Calistus Anyichie, a forward for the Binghamton University men’s basketball team, died Sunday in a drowning accident. — Alaa Abdeldaiem, SI.com, "Binghamton University Basketball Player Calistus Anyichie Identified in Drowning," 15 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of drown

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for drown

Middle English drounen

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More Definitions for drown

drown

verb
How to pronounce drown (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of drown

: to die by being underwater too long and unable to breathe
: to hold (a person or animal) underwater until death occurs
: to cover (something) completely with a liquid

See the full definition for drown in the English Language Learners Dictionary

drown

verb
\ ˈdrau̇n How to pronounce drown (audio) \
drowned; drowning

Kids Definition of drown

1 : to die or cause to die from being underwater and unable to breathe
2 : to cover with a liquid She drowns her salad with dressing.
3 : to overpower especially with noise
4 : to make helpless or overwhelmed drowning in work

drown

verb
\ ˈdrau̇n How to pronounce drown (audio) \
drowned\ ˈdrau̇nd How to pronounce drowned (audio) \; drowning\ ˈdrau̇-​niÅ‹ How to pronounce drowning (audio) \

Medical Definition of drown

intransitive verb

1 : to suffocate in water or some other liquid
2 : to suffocate because of excess of body fluid that interferes with the passage of oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues (as in pulmonary edema)

transitive verb

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