submerge

verb sub·merge \ səb-ˈmərj \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of submerge

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

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submergence

play \səb-ˈmər-jən(t)s\ noun

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submergible

play \səb-ˈmər-jə-bəl\ adjective

See submerge defined for English-language learners

See submerge defined for kids

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 of submerge from the Web

Officials said homes over a radius of nearly 1.2 miles were submerged.

— tom odula, BostonGlobe.com, "At least 44 killed as dam bursts in Kenya, officials say," 10 May 2018
Officials said homes over a radius of nearly 1.2 miles were submerged.

— USA TODAY, "At least 44 killed as dam bursts in Kenya and sweeps away hundreds of homes," 10 May 2018
Officials said homes over a radius of nearly 1.2 miles were submerged.

— tom odula, chicagotribune.com, "At least 41 killed after dam bursts in Kenya, officials say," 10 May 2018
Bankston scrambled get before the car was fully submerged.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Woman rescued after car plunges off Howey bridge into Little Lake Harris," 9 May 2018
The white four-door Crown Victoria was fully submerged in about 8 feet of water some 100 feet from the shore, Rhodes said.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "96-year-old woman rescued from submerged car that went into Aurora pond: 'They had to fight to get her out'," 5 May 2018
In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, a boy stands outside his family home, which has been submerged by floods following prolonged heavy rains in Tana Delta, Coastal Kenya.

— Washington Post, "6 dead in Kenya overnight flooding with 11 others missing," 4 May 2018
The bigger of the two boys was fully submerged; his knee jammed into the open suction drain.

— mari a. schaefer, Philly.com, "WATCH: Pa. Corrections officer saves boy trapped underwater in pool drain," 30 Apr. 2018
The man and his car were completely submerged when rescue crews arrived, Dina said.

— rafael guerrero, Naperville Sun, "Naperville Dive Team pulls driver out of submerged vehicle," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'submerge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of submerge

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

submerge Synonyms

SUBMERGE Defined for English Language Learners

submerge

verb

Definition of submerge for English Language Learners

: to make (someone or something) go under the surface of water or some other liquid : to cover (someone or something) with a liquid
: to go underwater
: to make (yourself) fully involved in an activity or interest