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.
So, this was the crisis that engulfed Virginia at the end of April in 1775. Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025 Police officers and firefighters arrived to find the building fully engulfed in flames. Jason Green, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025 The university has been reeling from the scandal that engulfed the athletic department. Sophia Tareen, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Minutes later, the trooper neared the I-695 exit ramp to southbound Interstate 83 and observed the Jeep fully engulfed in flames in a grassy area next to the roadway, the release says. Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Engulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engulf. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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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