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engulf

6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for engulf, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To completely surround or cover something, often suddenly and overwhelmingly.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

immerse engross soak up

How to use engulf

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

engulfed in flames engulf a building engulfed by darkness

Etymology

From en- + gulf, literally "to swallow into a gulf".

Full origin of engulf →

Frequently asked questions

What does “engulf” mean?

The word “engulf” means to completely surround or cover something, often suddenly and overwhelmingly. In plain terms, to swallow up or overwhelm something completely, whether that's fire, water, or an emotion.

How do you pronounce “engulf”?

“Engulf” is pronounced ihng-GUHLF (/ɪŋˈɡʌlf/ in IPA).

How do you use “engulf” in a sentence?

Here is “engulf” used in a sentence: “Flames quickly engulfed the old warehouse.”

What part of speech is “engulf”?

“Engulf” is a verb.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.