drown
[verb]
Synonyms:
- drench, deluge, engulf, flood, go under, immerse, inundate, sink, submerge, swamp
- overpower, deaden, muffle, obliterate, overcome, overwhelm, stifle, swallow up, wipe out

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

drown /draʊn/ verb
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]

1. [intransitive and transitive] to die from being under water for too long, or to kill someone in this way:
Many people drowned when the boat overturned.
Jane was drowned in the river.
drown yourself
Depressed, Peter tried to drown himself.

2. (also drown out) [transitive] if a loud noise drowns out another sound, it prevents it from being heard:
A train blew its whistle and drowned his voice.
The noise of the battle was drowned out by his aircraft’s engine.

3. [transitive] to cover something, especially food, with more liquid than is necessary or nice
drown something in something
The fish was drowned in a rich sauce.

4. [intransitive and transitive] to have a very strong feeling or a serious problem that is difficult to deal with
drown in
Relief agencies are drowning in frustration.
The country is drowning in debt.

5. drown your sorrows to drink a lot of alcohol in order to forget your problems

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

drown
verb
1.
BAD: Nobody knows why the ship drowned.
GOOD: Nobody know why the ship sank.

Usage Note:
See note at SINK (sink)

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2.
BAD: The boy was nearly drown.
GOOD: The boy was drowning.
BAD: A man jumped into the river to save her from being drown.
GOOD: A man jumped into the river to save her from drowning.

Usage Note:
drown (verb) = die by being under the water and unable to breathe: 'Help him! He's drowning!' 'The lifeguard got to him too late. He had already drowned.' 'She keeps away from the water because she's afraid of drowning.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲