drown

verb

ˈdrau̇n 

drowned ˈdrau̇nd  ; drowning ˈdrau̇-niŋ 

intransitive verb

: to become drowned

fell in the river and drowned

chicken drowning in barbecue sauce

drowning in paperwork

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

4

a

: to drive out (something, such as a sensation or an idea)

drowned his sorrows in liquor

b

: overwhelm

was drowned in homework

Synonyms of drown

• flood
• engulf
• overwhelm
• submerge

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Esa Lindell, Heiskanen’s primary partner, has been drowning at five-on-five, and the Stars have been outscored 5-0 with him on the ice. —Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

In 2018, 32-year-old Francis Roselin, of West Palm Beach, drowned while enjoying festivities on the water. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Some appear to be cordially greeting viewers with a wave, while others evince the desperation of a person drowning. —Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026

The Medical Examiner’s Office is asking for public help in identifying a woman who drowned in the Tijuana River in 2022. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English drounen

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing drown

• drown one's sorrows/fears

Rhymes for drown

• bown
• clown
• crown
• frown
• gown
• lown
• noun
• town
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown

Kids Definition

drown

verb

ˈdrau̇n 

1

a

: to suffocate in a liquid and especially in water

b

: to become drowned

2

: to cover with water : inundate

3

: to overpower especially with noise

—usually used with out

the music was drowned out by shouting

Medical Definition

drown

verb

ˈdrau̇n 

drowned ˈdrau̇nd  ; drowning ˈdrau̇-niŋ 

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

: to suffocate by submersion especially in water

drowned three kittens