submerge
sub-MERJ
/səbˈmɜːrdʒ/
To sink or plunge under the surface of water or another liquid; to completely cover with water.
Emphasizes full immersion under a liquid's surface.
The story behind the word. Formed from Latin 'sub-' (under) and 'mergere' (to dip or drown). The same root 'mergere' gives us 'merge' (to plunge together) and 'emerge' (to plunge out of). To submerge literally means to plunge under.
Word relationships
- immerse: 'Immerse' can mean dipping briefly or figuratively involving oneself, whereas 'submerge' emphasizes going beneath water completely.
- emerge: 'Emerge' means rising up out of water or hiding, direct opposite to submerging.
Commonly confused with
- inundate: 'Inundate' emphasizes flooding land with water, whereas 'submerge' focuses on plunging an item below the surface.
Word family
- submerged (adjective): Under the surface of water.
- submersion (noun): The act of going under water.
Collocations
- submerge completely
- submerge beneath
- fully submerge
Example sentences
- "Rising floodwaters threatened to submerge the lower coastal roads entirely." Natural Disasters
- "The submarine began to submerge slowly into the dark coastal waters." Exploration
Memory hook
SUB (under) + MERGE (plunge). Submarines submerge under water! Plunged under water.
When not to use
Do not use if an object is only partially wet, splashed, or floating on top.
Fun facts
- Certain sea creatures can remain submerged for hours by dramatically slowing their heart rates.
Also appears in
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