submerge

IPA/səbˈmɜːdʒ/
KK[səbmˈɚdʒ]IPA/səbˈmɜːrdʒ/

submerge — verb

  • submergepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • submergeshe / she / it
  • submergedpast simple
  • submerging-ing form

1. to enter a body of water and become fully covered by it, or to push something in

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to enter a body of water and become fully covered by it, or to push something into a liquid so that it is no longer visible above the surface

例句

The crocodile lay still in the river and then slowly submerged without making a sound.

intransitive use: animal submerge underwater

Minho submerged the dirty plates in hot soapy water before scrubbing them clean.

transitive: submerge + object in [liquid]

同義詞
  • immerse

    more deliberate and often implies a short dip rather than going entirely under

  • sink

    emphasises downward movement, not necessarily being fully covered

  • dip

    brief or partial contact with liquid

  • plunge

    more forceful and sudden than submerge

反義詞
  • surface

    to come up above the liquid

  • emerge

    to come out from below the surface

文法句型

submerge + object + in + liquid

submerge (no object)

be submerged by + water

submerge + object + in + noun (protective context)

用法筆記

Can be used with an object (transitive: 'submerge the boat') or without one (intransitive: 'the boat submerged'). The passive form 'be submerged by + water' is very common when describing the effect of tides, floods, or waves.

常見錯誤

❌I submerged in the pool.
✅I submerged myself in the pool.' or 'The rock submerged in the pool.
💡When a person is the subject of a transitive action, use the reflexive pattern 'submerge oneself'; the bare intransitive form usually describes objects or animals.

2. to prevent feelings, beliefs, or personal wishes from being seen or known, or to

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to prevent feelings, beliefs, or personal wishes from being seen or known, or to cause something to become less noticeable by surrounding it with something else

例句

Tanvi tried to submerge her worry and speak calmly to the waiting parents.

submerge + emotion (worry/fear) — figurative

The writer’s personal opinions are completely submerged in the book’s formal academic tone.

passive: be submerged in [tone/style] — figurative

同義詞
  • suppress

    stronger, often implies force or conscious effort

  • hide

    more general, can be physical or emotional

  • drown out

    specific to sounds being covered

  • bury

    implies putting something deep inside, similar emotional weight

反義詞
  • reveal

    to make feelings or opinions known

  • express

    to show or communicate emotions openly

  • expose

    to uncover something hidden

文法句型

submerge + emotion/ambition/opinion

be submerged in + noun (context/medium)

submerge + noun + in + noun

用法筆記

The passive 'be submerged in + noun' works for contexts ('submerged in grief', 'submerged in work') but note the difference: 'submerged in grief' means overwhelmed by it, whereas the active 'submerge one’s grief' means deliberately hiding it. Distinguish from sense 1 which is always physical.

常見錯誤

❌She submerged her tears.
✅She submerged her grief.' or 'She submerged her sadness.
💡The figurative sense takes abstract nouns (emotions, ambitions, opinions), not concrete nouns like tears.