drown - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
drown Word Meanings
- to be submerged in water and unable to breathe
- to die by suffocation in water
- to overwhelm or flood (figurative)
drown Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
drown Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/draʊn/
US
/draʊn/
drown Word Etymology
drown: from Old English 'drunghan' (to drown), related to Old Norse 'drukna'. Memory image: envisioning someone sinking beneath the waves, unable to surface, overwhelmed by water.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I bend closer to the water and move my body along the edge, hands gripping the side to keep control. Water pushes against my face as I push with my legs, trying to rise above the surface. I adjust my stance, hold my breath, and keep my gaze up, listening to the surface sigh. The pressure grows from a splash to a heavy sense of being overwhelmed, and the moment carries the meaning of drowning in a bigger sense.
Real Context
To drown means to be submerged in water and unable to breathe, and it can also describe dying by suffocation in water. Beyond the literal sense, drown is commonly used figuratively to mean being overwhelmed or flooded by something, such as work, debt, or noise, leaving no mental or physical space to recover. In everyday speech, people say someone drowns in chores or drowns out the sound with music. Important nuance: drown implies complete immersion and loss of surface, not merely getting wet. For learners, note that drown is not used for situations where water only covers a part of the body; there must be risk of suffocation or no surface to reach.
Usage Reminders
- Remember drown is about immersion, not just getting wet. Use drowned/drowning for past/present continuous forms. In figurative use, drowned often pairs with overwhelmed or flooded. Do not use drown for places where water merely covers ankles. Learn common phrasings like drown in work, drown out noise. Practice listening for the difference between drown and sink.
Common Misconceptions
- Drown only refers to dying, not to being overwhelmed.
- Drown and sink are interchangeable in all contexts.
- Drown is used when you are merely wet, not submerged.
- Drown cannot be used with abstract emotions.
- Drown is the same as drown out or drown over.
Thinking Differences
English tends to treat drown as both literal and strong figurative immersion; learners often mix it with phrases about getting wet or confuse it with sink and flood.
Learning Tips
- Learn the core senses: literal drowning and figurative overwhelm.
- Practice common collocations like drown in work and drown out noise.
- Differentiate drown from sink and spill to avoid errors.
- Memorize past tense drowned and present participle drowning.
- Listen for phrasal patterns in contexts of danger and overload.
- Use simple, clear contexts to build confidence before complex sentences.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What does the word 'drown' mean?
A.To die by submerging in water
B.To sing loudly
C.To draw in art
D.To jump with joy
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'drown' correctly?
A.The fish drown in the pond whenever it rains.
B.She loves to drown in a good book.
C.He tried to drown the noise with music.
D.He learned to swim to avoid drowning.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'drown'?
A.Swim
B.Submerge
C.Float
D.Sink
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'drown'?
A.Hide
B.Save
C.Release
D.Conceal
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life scenario that involves the word 'drown'?
A.A swimmer struggled against the waves.
B.Children were playing in shallow water.
C.An intense rain flooded the lake.
D.A person saved someone from a sinking boat.
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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