verb
engulf
ihng-GUHLF
verb
1
To completely surround or cover something, often suddenly and overwhelmingly.
"Flames quickly engulfed the old warehouse."
"A wave of grief engulfed her when she heard the news."
How to Use Engulf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo swallow up or overwhelm something completely, whether that's fire, water, or an emotion.
Common pairings
engulfed in flames
engulf a building
engulfed by darkness
Word Forms
engulfed past tense, engulfs singular
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Flames quickly _____ the old warehouse.
Etymology
From en- + gulf, literally "to swallow into a gulf".