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

The TriFold is rated IP48 to withstand particles larger than 1mm and can be submerged in water. —Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026

The car was partially submerged near the boat ramp, and no one was found inside it or in the surrounding water. —Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026

The water partially submerged several cars on the street and some businesses were impacted. —Brandon Truitt, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

By the time first responders arrived, the vehicle had already submerged, prompting dive teams to begin search operations. —Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 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