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

Immerse the fabric completely.

2

: engross, absorb

completely immersed in his work

3

: to baptize by immersion

Synonyms of immerse

• interest
• intrigue
• occupy
• fascinate
• involve
• attract
• engross
• engage
• busy

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

Listen to holiday music and immerse yourself in a megadose of holiday cheer. —Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Dec. 2025

This wasn't Prince George's first introduction to service — or his first time slowly becoming immersed in the duties that will be his future. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025

Ostracizing them from pop culture that all of their peers are immersed in would be doing them a disservice. —Jessica Shyba, SELF, 19 Dec. 2025

An homage to abuelas Escobar and his team pulled out all the stops to fully immerse diners in the experience of visiting a Mexican grandmother’s house. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1605, 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