engulf

verb

en·​gulf in-ˈgəlf 

en-

engulfed; engulfing; engulfs

transitive verb

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

engulfment

in-ˈgəlf-mənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms of engulf

• flood
• overwhelm
• drown
• submerge

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

Video released Wednesday morning captured the moments when a Kansas City Police Department detective and a Clay County Sheriff’s deputy rescued a man from a pickup truck that was engulfed in flames. — Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

His moves have led to hopes of eventual stability in a country that was wracked by civil war and the Islamic State insurgency that engulfed northeast and western Iraq for years. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Nearby residents videoed the scene from the base of the hill, capturing the house engulfed in flames, with smoke pouring into the night sky. — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

The timing of her return surely coincides with the circumstances surrounding her near death and the grim mysteries that have engulfed the slow horses. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for engulf

• gulf
• gulph

Kids Definition

engulf

verb

en·​gulf in-ˈgəlf 

: to flow over and enclose : overwhelm

engulfment

-mənt 

noun