engulfed; engulfing; engulfs
1
: to flow over and enclose : overwhelm
the mounting seas threatened to engulf the island
2
: to take in (food) by or as if by flowing over and enclosing
Synonyms
Examples of engulf in a Sentence
The valley was engulfed in a thick fog.
high waves from the hurricane engulfed large areas of the coastal community
Recent Examples on the Web
The fire in July 2022 engulfed the warehouse at 5465 W. Irving St.
—
Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2024
The two years of comedy classes, half a Xanax and half a glass of wine paid off when she was engulfed in laughter at the Belly Room at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood in 2002.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
How many different nasty elements can seep through the cracks and engulf you in your recklessness?
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
In 1956, Haiti was engulfed in political chaos after President Paul Magloire failed to call elections.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
In the valet’s account, laid out in a transcript obtained by The New York Times, an agitated Mr. Trump pressured Mr. Pence to overturn the election and stewed about Mr. Pence’s refusal for hours after violence engulfed Congress.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
This is the latest controversy to engulf Turkish football.
—Sammy Mncwabe, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
Officers responded to the scene but the car was already engulfed in flames and the residence was also damaged.
—The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024
Its retro rides were engulfed by grass and vines, and its owner was eventually jailed for drug smuggling.
—Kate Maxwell Lindsey Tramuta Reggie Nadelson Gisela Williams Roxanne Fequiere Siska Lyssens, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2024
The two years of comedy classes, half a Xanax and half a glass of wine paid off when she was engulfed in laughter at the Belly Room at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood in 2002.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
How many different nasty elements can seep through the cracks and engulf you in your recklessness?
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
In 1956, Haiti was engulfed in political chaos after President Paul Magloire failed to call elections.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
In the valet’s account, laid out in a transcript obtained by The New York Times, an agitated Mr. Trump pressured Mr. Pence to overturn the election and stewed about Mr. Pence’s refusal for hours after violence engulfed Congress.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
This is the latest controversy to engulf Turkish football.
—Sammy Mncwabe, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
Officers responded to the scene but the car was already engulfed in flames and the residence was also damaged.
—The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024
Its retro rides were engulfed by grass and vines, and its owner was eventually jailed for drug smuggling.
—Kate Maxwell Lindsey Tramuta Reggie Nadelson Gisela Williams Roxanne Fequiere Siska Lyssens, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'engulf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near engulf
Cite this Entry
“Engulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engulf. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on engulf
Nglish: Translation of engulf for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of engulf for Arabic Speakers
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