engulf

verb

en·​gulf in-ˈgəlf How to pronounce engulf (audio)
en-
engulfed; engulfing; engulfs

transitive verb

1
: to flow over and enclose : overwhelm
the mounting seas threatened to engulf the island
2
: to take in (food) by or as if by flowing over and enclosing
engulfment noun

Examples of engulf in a Sentence

The valley was engulfed in a thick fog. high waves from the hurricane engulfed large areas of the coastal community
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The girls had minutes to flee before the Morrison Ranch barn was fully engulfed in flames. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024 The scandal engulfed the prime minister Monday and sent shock waves across the country. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024 The moves come ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday and as the entire Middle East region teeters on the edge of being engulfed in a wider regional conflict over the ongoing conflicts between Israel and Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 3 Nov. 2024 Though critics were given five of the six episodes for review, each episode is engulfed with information, characters and storylines. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for engulf 

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of engulf was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near engulf

Cite this Entry

“Engulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engulf. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

engulf

verb
en·​gulf in-ˈgəlf How to pronounce engulf (audio)
: to flow over and enclose : overwhelm
engulfment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on engulf

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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