engulf

verb

en·​gulf in-ˈgəlf How to pronounce engulf (audio)
en-
engulfed; engulfing; engulfs
Synonyms of engulfnext

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 noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The officers extracted a man with his legs pinned under the dashboard inside moments before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026 Firefighters arrived at the scene in minutes and put out the flames, which had by that time nearly engulfed most of the vehicle. Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026 Security video footage posted to Barrera’s Facebook page shows someone igniting and stoking flames inside the car, then fleeing before the vehicle is engulfed and eventually explodes. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026 The fire erupted in the Pacific Palisades community in the Santa Monica Mountains, spreading rapidly to engulf entire neighborhoods and prompt tens of thousands of evacuations, KNBC reported. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engulf

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of engulf was in 1555

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Engulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engulf. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

engulf

verb
en·​gulf in-ˈgəlf How to pronounce engulf (audio)
: to flow over and enclose : overwhelm
engulfment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on engulf

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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