drown
drown Lexical Profile
drown Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To die through submersion in and inhalation of water or another liquid, or to cause someone to die in this manner.
"Coastal safety instructors teach children how to float on their backs so they do not drown in rough surf."
To submerge, flood, or drench completely in water or another liquid.
"The chef prefers not to drown the delicate steamed fish in heavy sauces."
To make a sound inaudible by overlapping it with a much louder noise (often followed by 'out').
"The roar of the passing freight train threatened to drown the speaker's voice during the outdoor ceremony."
To overwhelm with an excessive amount of work, obligations, or emotion, or to alleviate grief and sorrow through drink.
"During the peak tax season, the small accounting firm began to drown in paperwork."
• Rhymes for drown
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English drounen, likely borrowed from Old Norse drukkna ('to be drowned'), which comes from the Proto-Germanic root *drunknaną, related to the verb 'drink'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.