drown
drown
Drown (verb) means to die, or to kill, by being unable to breathe underwater. Example: “The lifeguard rescued a swimmer before he could drown.”
verb
1
To die, or to kill, by being unable to breathe underwater.
"The lifeguard rescued a swimmer before he could drown."
"The garden was drowned by days of heavy rain."
"Children should always be watched near water so they cannot drown."
2
To overwhelm or completely cover, often used figuratively.
"Her voice was drowned out by the roaring crowd."
"He tried to drown his sorrows after the breakup."
"The noise of the lawnmower drowned out the speaker's quiet words."
How to use drown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo die from being submerged in water without air, or, figuratively, to be completely overwhelmed or covered by something.
Common pairings
drown out
drown your sorrows
nearly drowned
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- drowns
- Past tense
- drowned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lifeguard rescued a swimmer before he could _____.
Etymology
Of uncertain origin, though likely shaped by influence from Old Norse drukkna, a related word for the same idea.
Related words
Rhymes for drown
See all rhymes for drown →Frequently asked questions
What does “drown” mean?
The word “drown” means to die, or to kill, by being unable to breathe underwater. In plain terms, to die from being submerged in water without air, or, figuratively, to be completely overwhelmed or covered by something.
How do you pronounce “drown”?
“Drown” is pronounced drown (/dɹaʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “drown” in a sentence?
Here is “drown” used in a sentence: “The lifeguard rescued a swimmer before he could drown.”
What is another word for “drown”?
Words with a similar meaning to “drown” include flood and inundate.
What part of speech is “drown”?
“Drown” is a verb.
Where does the word “drown” come from?
The word “drown” comes from Old Norse. Of uncertain origin, though likely shaped by influence from Old Norse drukkna, a related word for the same idea.
Is “drown” a common word?
“Drown” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “drown” have?
“Drown” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to die, or to kill, by being unable to breathe underwater.
What is the difference between drown and suffocate?
Drown refers specifically to dying or being killed by submersion in water or another liquid, while suffocate refers to death from a lack of oxygen in general, which can happen on dry land as well. All drowning is a form of suffocation, but not all suffocation is drowning.
Can drown be used figuratively?
Yes, drown is commonly used figuratively to describe being overwhelmed or completely covered by something, as in 'drowning in paperwork' or 'drown out the noise.' This figurative sense keeps the core idea of being submerged or overpowered.
Is it correct to say someone was drowned or that they drowned?
Both are used but mean different things: 'he drowned' describes an accidental or unintentional death, while 'he was drowned' implies someone else caused it deliberately. Careful writers avoid 'was drowned' when describing an accident, since it can wrongly suggest another person was responsible.
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