verb
submerge
suhb-MURJ
Submerge (verb) means to go completely under the surface of water or another liquid. Example: “The whale submerged after taking a breath at the surface.”
verb
1
To go completely under the surface of water or another liquid.
"The whale submerged after taking a breath at the surface."
2
To put something fully under the surface of a liquid.
"Submerge the vegetables in cold water to stop them cooking."
3
To overwhelm or engulf, often figuratively.
"She felt submerged by grief after the funeral."
How to use submerge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go, or put something, completely underwater — or figuratively, to be overwhelmed by something.
Common pairings
submerge in water
fully submerged
submerged by emotion
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- submerges
- Past tense
- submerged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The whale _____ after taking a breath at the surface.
Etymology
From Latin submergere, from sub- ("under") plus mergere ("to plunge, dip").
Related words
Rhymes for submerge
See all rhymes for submerge →Frequently asked questions
What does “submerge” mean?
The word “submerge” means to go completely under the surface of water or another liquid. In plain terms, to go, or put something, completely underwater — or figuratively, to be overwhelmed by something.
How do you pronounce “submerge”?
“Submerge” is pronounced suhb-MURJ (/səbˈmɝd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “submerge” in a sentence?
Here is “submerge” used in a sentence: “The whale submerged after taking a breath at the surface.”
What is another word for “submerge”?
Words with a similar meaning to “submerge” include submerse.
What part of speech is “submerge”?
“Submerge” is a verb.
Where does the word “submerge” come from?
The word “submerge” comes from Latin. From Latin submergere, from sub- ("under") plus mergere ("to plunge, dip").
How many meanings does “submerge” have?
“Submerge” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to go completely under the surface of water or another liquid.
