English Reference
Idiom idiom

drown out


To cover, obscure, or overwhelm by being louder or more intense than.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The loud music drowns out our conversation.

CONTEXTUAL

She turned up the radio to drown out the sound of the neighbors arguing next door.

COMPLEX

The relentless roar of the waterfall served to drown out his thoughts, providing a temporary escape from the anxieties of the city.


Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    drown the miller

    To put too much water in something; overdilute.

Last updated August 10, 2026