drown

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to kill a person or animal by holding them under water.

v. to cause death by suffocating a person or animal in water or another liquid. This sense is transitive and requires a direct object.

“In the old story, the villain tried to drown the hero in a locked room filling with water.”

“The historical records suggest that the invaders would drown their captives in the river as a form of ritual execution.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Cooking

v. to cover something completely with a liquid, like sauce or water.

v. to submerge or soak something thoroughly in a liquid, often to an excessive degree.

“Don't drown your salad in dressing or you won't taste the vegetables.”

“The chef cautioned against drowning the delicate white fish in heavy cream, as it would mask the subtle flavours of the herbs.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to have too much of something to deal with, like work or debt.

v. to be overwhelmed or inundated by a large and unmanageable amount of something. Figurative use, often appearing in the progressive 'drowning in'.

“I am drowning in paperwork and don't think I can finish it by Friday.”

“Small businesses are currently drowning in debt due to the unexpected rise in interest rates and falling consumer demand.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make so much noise that another sound cannot be heard.

v. to make a sound inaudible by being much louder than it. Usually used with the particle 'out'.

“The sound of the jet engine drowned out our conversation.”

“The roar of the crowd effectively drowned out the referee's whistle, leading to several seconds of confusion on the pitch.”