being drowned out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being drowned out" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where one sound or voice is overpowered or made inaudible by another louder sound or voice. Example: "During the debate, her arguments were being drowned out by the loud cheers from the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Count on climate change being drowned out".

The New Yorker

Why were their voices being drowned out?

The Guardian - Opinion

No, they're being drowned out by crap show tunes.

The Guardian - Sport

They risk being drowned out by stuff online.

The Guardian - Tech

Unfortunately his noble intentions risk being drowned out by much background noise.

The Economist

"Right now we're being drowned out by all these cheaters," Mr. Bronner said.

The New York Times

He did not need to complete his exhortation before being drowned out by generous applause.

Independent

There is deep frustration that policy announcements are being drowned out by headlines about spending cuts.

Independent

The fans are being drowned out by the witless honk of the vuvuzelas.

The New York Times - Sports

"There are so many strong, positive Muslim voices being drowned out," he will add.

Independent

That is, we talked, or I talked, mostly about its being "drowned out".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "being drowned out" to vividly describe situations where a voice, sound, or idea is overpowered, ensuring your writing conveys the sense of something important being lost or ignored.

Common error

Avoid using "being drowned out" in literal contexts relating to water; the phrase is generally used figuratively to describe sounds or ideas being overwhelmed, not actual submersion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being drowned out" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of being overwhelmed or suppressed. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being drowned out" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to describe situations where something is overshadowed or overwhelmed. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is widely used and accepted. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. When writing, be mindful of using it in its figurative sense, focusing on the overwhelming of sounds, voices, or ideas rather than literal submersion. Consider alternatives like "being overshadowed" or "being suppressed" for nuanced meanings. The phrase is useful for vividly portraying a sense of loss of clarity or significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being overshadowed

Focuses on the act of becoming less prominent or important due to something else.

being lost in the noise

Focuses on the inability to distinguish something due to surrounding sounds.

being suppressed

Highlights the act of actively preventing something from being heard or seen.

being overshadowed by

It puts emphasis on the agent that is causing the drowning out.

being muffled

Emphasizes the reduction in clarity or audibility of a sound.

being overwhelmed

Suggests a situation in which something is overcome by a large amount of something else.

being muted

Implies a complete or near-complete silencing of a sound or voice.

being obscured

Highlights the act of something being hidden from view.

being eclipsed

Suggests a situation where something is completely hidden or obscured.

fading into the background

Emphasizes the loss of prominence or importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "being drowned out" in a sentence?

You can use "being drowned out" to describe a situation where a sound, voice, or idea is overwhelmed by something else. For example: "The politician's message was "being drowned out" by the constant scandals."

What is a good alternative to "being drowned out"?

Alternatives to "being drowned out" include "being overshadowed", "being suppressed", or "being muffled", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "being drown out" instead of "being drowned out"?

No, the correct form is "being drowned out". "Drown" is a regular verb in this context, so it takes the -ed ending in the past participle form.

What does it mean when something is "being drowned out"?

When something is "being drowned out", it means that it is "being overshadowed" or overwhelmed by something else, making it difficult to hear, see, or recognize.