drown — to die by being unable to breathe underwater
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to die by being unable to breathe underwater
Pronunciation (IPA): /draʊn/
Example Sentences
- My phone drowned when I dropped it in the toilet.
- She tried to drown her embarrassment in a large cup of coffee.
- The lifeguard prevented the child from drowning.
drown
VERB[/draʊn/]
to die by being unable to breathe underwater

The sailor nearly drowned when the storm flipped his small fishing boat.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Drown derives from Middle English drowen or drounen, originating from Germanic roots meaning 'to die in water' or 'to sink'. The term has remained remarkably consistent in meaning from Middle English through Modern English, retaining its core sense of perishing or being submerged in water.
Breakdown
The word evolved from Middle English drounen (to die in water) to Modern English drown, with the Germanic base root relating to submersion and death by water. No productive morphemes are present in the contemporary form; it is an inherited simple verb from the Germanic language family.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My phone drowned when I dropped it in the toilet.”
“She tried to drown her embarrassment in a large cup of coffee.”
“The lifeguard prevented the child from drowning.”
“I'm drowning in homework this week.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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