engulf up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "engulf up" is not correct and not usable in written English.
The word "engulf" already implies a sense of surrounding or overwhelming, so "up" is unnecessary and incorrect in this context. Example: "The waves began to engulf the shore as the storm approached."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The animal feeds by opening its jaws while swimming at some in one study, which causes it to engulf up to of water in one gulp.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

* Ruptured gas lines and propane tanks sent fiery balls bursting through asphalt roads, engulfing up to 100 mobile homes at three San Fernando Valley trailer parks.

Los Angeles Times

"Grief" does make room for humor, very much so when it comes to a trio of supporting characters whose animation and brio lift the engulfing sadness, up to a point.

The New York Times - Arts

Moreover, sinusoidal blood vessels engulfed by up to about 20 tumour cell rows still expressed LYVE-1 at the tumour liver interface, whereas those towards the centre of the metastases expressed less of the receptor.

British Journal of Cancer

Some, like neutrophils and macrophages, engulf and chew up microbes.

The New Yorker

A. In about five billion years, scientists estimate, the Earth will be engulfed and burned up in the expanding radius of the Sun as it evolves.

The New York Times - Science

Were he not talking about geopolitics and accusing Mr. Assange of being a Marxist (skipping right past the Socialist label), Mr. Varadarajan would sound a lot like the commentators who worry about the generation growing up engulfed by modern Internet technologies.

The New York Times

Rather like Christos Tsiolkas's The Slap, Amy Waldman's The Submission (longlisted for this year's Guardian first book award) is a novel motored by a single incident whose consequences fan outwards and end up engulfing an entire community.

The Guardian - Books

In a classic memoir of modern Jewish life, "Out of Egypt," Andre Aciman recalls how his family fled the Arab revolution in Egypt only to end up engulfed by nostalgic yearnings for any number of other places -- for the Alexandria they had left behind, for Paris, for New York and even, of course, for Israel, where the family had never been.

The New York Times - Books

Alone in the living room of the Hamptons share house the two couples have rented — David Zinn's smartly functional set does effective double duty in both acts of the show — Sam and Monica start out extolling the virtues of their spouses, Barb and Lenny, but end up engulfed by their passion for each other.

The New York Times

So, what happened to the economic nuclear winter that was supposed to engulf the start-up economy for the next five years?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the word "engulf" on its own. It already conveys the meaning of completely surrounding or swallowing something, making "up" unnecessary.

Common error

Do not add "up" after "engulf". The word "engulf" already implies a complete action, so adding "up" is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Choose more precise verbs to avoid such redundancies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "engulf up" attempts to function as a verb describing the act of completely surrounding or overwhelming something. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect because "engulf" already implies this completeness. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "engulf up" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, "engulf" already includes the meaning of completely surrounding or swallowing something. Therefore, adding "up" is redundant. Although sources like The New York Times and The Guardian appear in Ludwig's examples, using "engulf" alone or a suitable alternative is recommended for clearer and more accurate writing. Remember to consider alternatives like "swallow up" or "overwhelm" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Engulf

Removes the redundant "up", correcting the grammar while retaining the core meaning.

Swallow up

Implies complete consumption or overwhelming, similar to engulfing.

Submerge

Focuses on covering something with a liquid or similar substance.

Immerse

Highlights being deeply involved or surrounded, whether physically or figuratively.

Surround

Indicates being completely enclosed on all sides.

Overwhelm

Emphasizes being overpowered or overcome by something.

Envelop

Suggests covering something completely, often in a gentle or protective way.

Consume

Focuses on the act of using something up completely.

Devour

Implies rapid and complete consumption.

Inundate

Suggests being flooded or overwhelmed with something.

FAQs

Is "engulf up" grammatically correct?

No, "engulf up" is grammatically incorrect. The verb "engulf" already means to surround or swallow completely, so adding "up" is redundant. It's best to use just "engulf".

What does "engulf" mean?

"Engulf" means to surround or swallow something completely. For example, "The flames "engulfed" the building" means the flames completely surrounded and consumed the building.

What can I use instead of "engulf up"?

You can simply use "engulf". Other alternatives include "swallow up", "overwhelm", or "submerge", depending on the specific context.

How do I use "engulf" in a sentence?

Use "engulf" to describe something being completely surrounded or swallowed. For example: "The rising tide "engulfed" the beach", or "The scandal threatened to engulf the politician".