Drowning
ˈdraʊnɪŋ
Definitions
3 meaningsTo die by suffocation caused by submersion in liquid.
ˈdraʊn
To die by submersion in a liquid.
He drowned in the river after his boat capsized.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at the beach and accidentally fall into the water and can't breathe. That's drowning!
👶 For kids: When you go under water and can't breathe.
More Examples
Rescuers desperately searched for the swimmer who was believed to have drowned.
How It's Used
"The victim drowned in the lake."
"Several people drowned during the flood."
To be overwhelmed or destroyed by something.
ˈdraʊn
To be overcome or overwhelmed by something.
The company was drowning in debt and faced bankruptcy.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have so much homework that you feel like you're being buried under it. That feeling is like drowning in work!
👶 For kids: When you have too much of something and feel like you can't handle it.
More Examples
He was drowning in paperwork and couldn't keep up with the deadlines.
She was drowning in the stress of her job.
How It's Used
"She was drowning in debt."
"I'm drowning in paperwork this week."
The act or instance of dying by being submerged in a liquid.
ˈdraʊnɪŋ
The act or process of dying by submersion in a liquid.
The investigators are looking into the cause of death; it was determined to be drowning.
💡 Simply: The moment when someone dies from being in water and can't breathe.
👶 For kids: When someone dies because they are in water and can't breathe.
More Examples
Drowning is a serious risk in areas with open water.
How It's Used
"The cause of death was listed as drowning."
"Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the drowning."
Idioms & expressions
drowning in...
To be overwhelmed or burdened by a large quantity of something.
"I'm drowning in emails."
going down for the third time
To be close to death or failure; to be in a dire situation.
"The business was going down for the third time, but they still refused to give up."
From Middle English *drounen*, from Old English *drūnian* (“to be drowned, sink, become wet”), from Proto-Germanic *drūmaną* (“to sink, be depressed”). Cognate with Dutch *dronken* (“drunk”), German *drohen* (“to threaten”).
The word has been used since Old English, with early uses often referring to death by water.
Memory tip
Imagine a crown sinking in water; the crown is 'drowning'.