drown

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'drown' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone drowns or is dominated by something. Examples: 1. The child drowned in the river. 2. He was drowned in debt. 3. My hopes were drowned by disappointment.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I don't really know how to drown".

The Guardian - Film

Taking one point from BMO Field could be seen as a good thing and the comeback might temporarily drown the lackluster defensive performance for Les Bleus de Montreal' There isn't a defense problem at the Impact: there is a "defensive" mind-set problem at the Impact.

The Guardian - Sport

Our community continues to excuse the practise of drowning one's sorrows, but forgotten is that active alcoholics often go looking for sorrows in order to drown them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Part of me said, 'I'm not going to drown here.

The Guardian - Film

Those voices can't drown out the voices of millions of Americans who want us to stand up for the hardworking taxpayers".

The Guardian

Related: Italian PM calls for emergency summit as up to 700 migrants drown But now Europe is bracing for worse.

The Guardian

If he senses any candidate (such as Newt Gingrich) might be a serious challenge, Romney can drown out his opponent with television advertising and establishment endorsements (as Elliott Abrams describes in the National Review).

The Guardian - Opinion

When the hour came, the UK turned its back on despairing people and left them to drown".

The Guardian

In some of these old tales, children have their heads hacked off and adults are stuck in barrels full of nails and rolled in to rivers to drown.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Without intervention, my life would spiral down into a mess of Doritos, Jaffa Cakes and bedsores until I drown in the depths of my own fleshy crevices at a tragically young age.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We would rather let people drown for nothing other than baseless political motives.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drown" figuratively, ensure the context clearly establishes the overwhelming nature of the subject, such as "drowning in debt" or "drowning in work."

Common error

Avoid using "drown" passively without a clear agent. For example, instead of "The information was drowned," specify who or what caused the information to be obscured: "The noise drowned out the information."

Linguistic Context

Drown primarily functions as a verb, denoting death by submersion in water or other liquid. It can also be used figuratively to describe being overwhelmed. This is supported by Ludwig's assessment and the example sentences provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Opinion

25%

Lifestyle

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "drown" is a versatile verb with both literal and figurative applications. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Literally, it describes death by submersion in water. Figuratively, it signifies being overwhelmed. Common usage patterns include contexts related to News & Media, Opinion and Lifestyle, indicating a neutral register. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying what is causing the drowning, especially in passive constructions. Ludwig's examples highlight the breadth of its application, from describing tragic accidents to expressing overwhelming emotions or situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

submerge

Emphasizes the act of being completely covered by a liquid.

be submerged

Highlights being covered by a liquid.

flood

Focuses on the overflowing of water or other substances.

inundate

Highlights the overwhelming nature of being covered, either literally or figuratively.

overwhelm

Stresses being overpowered or overcome by a large amount or force.

succumb

Highlights the act of giving way to a stronger force or pressure, resulting in death or defeat.

perish

Focuses on the act of dying, often in a sudden or violent way.

be engulfed

Emphasizes being completely surrounded and consumed by something.

lose one's life in the water

Refers directly to the act of dying specifically in water.

go under

A more idiomatic way to suggest the act of being submerged and failing.

FAQs

How can I use "drown" in a sentence?

The verb "drown" can be used both literally, as in "The swimmer almost drowned", and figuratively, such as "The company was "drowned in debt"".

What is the difference between "drown" and "suffocate"?

"Drown" specifically refers to death by submersion in liquid, while "suffocate" means to die from lack of oxygen, regardless of the cause. One can "drown" in water, but "suffocate" in a confined space.

What can I say instead of "drown"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "submerge", "flood", or "overwhelm".

Is it correct to say "drowned out"?

Yes, "drowned out" is a common phrasal verb meaning to obscure or overpower a sound or other sensation. For example, "The music "drowned out" the conversation."