immerse

verb

im·​merse i-ˈmərs 

immersed; immersing

transitive verb

1

: to plunge into something that surrounds or covers

especially : to plunge or dip into a fluid

2

: engross, absorb

completely immersed in his work

3

: to baptize by immersion

Synonyms

• absorb
• bemuse
• busy
• catch up
• engage
• engross
• enthrall
• enthral
• enwrap
• fascinate
• grip
• interest
• intrigue
• involve
• occupy

Examples of immerse in a Sentence

Immerse the fabric completely in the dye.

She had immersed herself in writing short stories.

He immersed himself in the culture of the island.

Recent Examples on the Web

When buprenorphine arrived in the U.S. in 2002, the country was immersed in what would later be categorized as the first wave of the opioid epidemic. —Ethan Brooks, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025

No shirt, spliff in hand, and totally in his element, Wiz made sure the crowd was fully immersed in his trippy world. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in Buenos Aires in 1936, was immersed in the nation’s conflicts from the beginning of his career in the Church. —Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

But each was a space where people come together to connect and be immersed in music. —Lia Tabackman, Refinery29, 18 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin immersus, past participle of immergere, from in- + mergere to merge

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for immerse

• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse
• rehearse
• reverse
• transverse

Kids Definition

immerse

verb

im·​merse im-ˈərs 

immersed; immersing

1

: to plunge into something (as a fluid) that surrounds or covers

2

: to become completely involved in

immersed in a good book

immersion

-ˈər-zhən

-shən

noun