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

After the plane spent a lifetime submerged in teal waters, a local heritage group organized a salvage project to recover the rare Japanese aircraft. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026

Don't go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026

Be sure the bag is large enough to fit over the showerhead and there is enough vinegar to completely submerge the head. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Apr. 2026

Hydrofoils are submerged wings that generate lift as the vessel accelerates, eventually raising the entire hull clear of the surface. —Omar Kardoudi april 09, New Atlas, 9 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