Phrasal verb
melt into
Definition
phrasal verb. to blend in or disappear slowly into a background or a group so you are no longer noticed.
phrasal verb. To blend gradually into a surrounding environment or group until no longer distinct. This phrasal verb is typically used to describe a seamless transition or a quiet disappearance.
Examples
“The thief melts into the crowd to avoid being caught.”
“As the sun sets, the deer slowly melts into the shadows of the forest.”
“The ancient ruins seem to melt into the rugged landscape, their stones weathered by centuries of wind and rain until they are indistinguishable from the surrounding cliffs.”
Examples
simple
“The thief melts into the crowd to avoid being caught.”
contextual
“As the sun sets, the deer slowly melts into the shadows of the forest.”
complex
“The ancient ruins seem to melt into the rugged landscape, their stones weathered by centuries of wind and rain until they are indistinguishable from the surrounding cliffs.”
Usage
This phrase is almost always followed by a noun phrase representing a crowd, darkness, or the background.
Teaching tip
Contrast this with 'blend in'; 'melt into' suggests a more gradual, almost magical disappearance into a larger whole.
Pitfall
He melted in the crowd.
He melted into the crowd.
The preposition 'into' is necessary to show the transition from being distinct to being part of the group.
Phrasal verb
Particles
into
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
melt + into + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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