submerge

verb

sub·​merge səb-ˈmərj 

submerged; submerging

transitive verb

1

: to put under water

2

: to cover or overflow with water

3

: to make obscure or subordinate : suppress

personal lives submerged by professional responsibilities

intransitive verb

: to go under water

submergence

səb-ˈmər-jən(t)s 

noun

submergible

səb-ˈmər-jə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of submerge

• engulf
• flood
• overwhelm
• drown

Examples of submerge in a Sentence

After boiling the broccoli, submerge it in ice water to stop the cooking process.

The town was submerged by the flood.

We watched as the divers prepared to submerge.

She's a marvelous actress who submerges herself totally in her roles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Don't go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged. —Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026

The researchers exposed about 8,000 rice seeds submerged in water—their preferred growing condition—to rain sounds. —K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026

The newspaper reported on Wednesday that floodwaters had been receding but that some properties were still submerged and could be at risk from the floating ice. —Adam England, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026

Immediately submerge the prepped hearts in the bowl of ice water mixed with a small amount of lemon juice to avoid browning. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin submergere, from sub- + mergere to plunge — more at merge

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for submerge

• converge
• diverge
• emerge
• upsurge
• demiurge
• dirge
• merge
• purge
• scourge
• serge
• splurge
• spurge

Kids Definition

submerge

verb

sub·​merge səb-ˈmərj 

submerged; submerging

1

: to put or go underwater

the whale submerged

2

: to cover or become covered with or as if with water

floods submerged the town