drown

To die because you cannot breathe while under water or another liquid.

• He nearly drowned in the river.
• Three passengers drowned when the boat sank.
• She cannot swim and is afraid of drowning.

How to use it: drown in something (Two people drowned in the lake.)

Similar words: drench

Common phrases: drown in water, nearly drown, drown at sea

To make something hard to hear, see, or notice by covering it with much more of something else.

• The rain drowned out his voice.
• Loud cheers drowned the final announcement.
• Useful advice was drowned in a mass of conflicting reports.

How to use it: drown out something (The music drowned out our conversation.); drown something in something (The important facts were drowned in unnecessary detail.)

Similar words: obscure, mask, overpower

Common phrases: drown out something, drown someone’s voice, drown something in something

To be covered by water or have far more work, information, or problems than you can manage.

• I am drowning in work.
• The fields drowned under days of heavy rain.
• Small businesses can drown in debt.

How to use it: drown in something (We are drowning in paperwork this week.)

Similar words: be overwhelmed, be flooded, be swamped

Common phrases: drown in debt, drown in work, drown in paperwork

To kill a person or animal by keeping them under water so they cannot breathe.

• Someone tried to drown the dog.
• The attacker drowned his victim in a pond.
• The story describes a king who drowned his enemies.

How to use it: drown someone/something in something (The murderer drowned his victim in the river.)

Common phrases: drown someone deliberately, drown an animal, drown someone in something, drown a dog