# drown out

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/drown-out
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- The loud music drowns out our conversation.
- She turned up the radio to drown out the sound of the neighbors arguing next door.
- The relentless roar of the waterfall served to drown out his thoughts, providing a temporary escape from the anxieties of the city.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.