drown out

USAGE SUMMARY

"drown out" is correct and commonly used in English.
You can use it to refer to something that makes something else (usually sound) unable to be heard. For example, "The loud music drowned out the sound of the wind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But he couldn't drown out the sound.

The New Yorker

Mexican shrills will drown out Liverpudlian bravado.

The Guardian - Sport

"It is designed to drown out fear".

The Guardian - Music

Either way, the argument threatens to drown out everything else.

The New York Times

Chants of "Roll Tide!" drown out conversation in the lobby.

The New York Times - Sports

Loudspeakers played music to drown out the victims' screams.

Independent

Noisy, yes; they do drown out the chop of propellers.

The New York Times - Travel

It's loud enough to drown out a civil-defense siren.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The barking dog would drown out a child's cries".

The New York Times

Sing it loud enough to drown out the doubters.

The Guardian - Film

It was Afghan folk music to drown out their voices".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drown out", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being obscured and what is doing the obscuring. For instance, "The loud music drowned out the conversation" clearly conveys the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "drown out" in contexts where a more appropriate verb emphasizing influence or suppression would be better. For example, instead of "The data drowned out the researcher's initial hypothesis", consider "The data refuted the researcher's initial hypothesis".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "drown out" primarily functions as a transitive verb. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It requires an object, indicating what is being obscured or overpowered. For example, "The music drowned out the noise."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "drown out" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression that effectively conveys the act of obscuring or overpowering something, often sound, emotions, or other sensory experiences. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. It is frequently found in news and media contexts, as well as scientific and general writing. When using "drown out", ensure clarity about what is being obscured. While versatile, writers should be mindful of more precise alternatives in formal contexts. By considering its connotations and context, writers can effectively use "drown out" to enhance their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overpower

Emphasizes the dominance of one thing over another, but doesn't specifically imply auditory or sensory overshadowing.

suppress

Focuses on inhibiting or holding back something, not necessarily by overpowering it with something else.

overwhelm

Similar to overpower, but with the implication of a greater degree of being affected or submerged, which is linked to the act of suppressing something.

mask

Suggests concealing or covering something, similar to "drown out" but more general and not specific to sound.

smother

Suggests completely covering or suppressing something, which can be applied metaphorically to emotions or ideas.

muffle

Implies reducing the intensity of a sound, making it less clear or noticeable, but not necessarily eliminating it completely.

override

Highlights the act of taking precedence or superiority, indicating influence but not always implying sensory experience.

eclipse

Metaphorically, signifies surpassing or overshadowing something in significance or prominence, similar to obscuring it.

blanket

Suggests covering something entirely, similar to how something might be obscured or hidden.

deafen

Indicates overwhelming loudness to the point of causing hearing loss or extreme discomfort.

FAQs

How can I use "drown out" in a sentence?

You can use "drown out" to describe something that obscures or prevents something else from being heard or noticed. For example, "The protesters' shouts tried to "drown out" the speaker's message".

What can I say instead of "drown out"?

Alternatives to "drown out" include "suppress", "mask", or "overpower", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "drown out" to describe non-auditory senses?

While "drown out" is often used in relation to sound, it can be used metaphorically to describe obscuring or overpowering other senses or even emotions. For instance, "The athlete tried to "drown out" the pain with adrenaline".

What is the difference between "drown out" and "muffle"?

"Muffle" implies reducing the intensity of a sound, while "drown out" means to completely obscure or prevent the sound from being heard. Muffling reduces clarity; drowning out eliminates it. You are muffling the sound when you use pillows to cover your ears, while you "drown out" a sound when you listen to loud music.