submerge

/səbˈmɜːdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /səbˈmɜːrdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /səb-ˈmərj/ (ame, mw)

submerge — verb

  • submergepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • submergeshe / she / it
  • submergedpast simple
  • submerging-ing form

1. to push something down into water or another liquid until it is completely cover

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to push something down into water or another liquid until it is completely covered; or to go down deep into a liquid and stay out of sight beneath the top

例句

Theo submerged the dirty dishes in the sink and let them soak overnight.

submerge + object + in [liquid]

After the heavy rain, the old stone bridge was completely submerged.

passive: be submerged by water

同義詞
  • immerse

    suggests a deliberate, often brief placement in liquid, as in cooking or baptising

  • plunge

    emphasises speed and force entering the liquid

  • sink

    focuses on the downward movement under water, often used for objects or ships that go down unintentionally

  • dip

    only partial or brief covering, not fully submerged

反義詞
  • surface

    to come up above the water

  • float

    to stay on top of the water rather than sinking

文法句型

submerge + object + in/under [liquid]

submerge (no object)

be submerged

用法筆記

Transitive and intransitive uses are both common; the passive form 'be submerged' often describes a resulting state — a submerged object is already fully under water, not in the process of going under.

常見錯誤

❌She submerged the vegetables into the boiling water for thirty seconds.
✅She submerged the vegetables in the boiling water for thirty seconds.
💡use 'in', not 'into', with 'submerge'.
❌The submarine submerged down to three hundred metres.
✅The submarine submerged to three hundred metres.
💡'submerge' already contains the idea of downward movement, so 'down' is redundant.

2. to cover up or push down your true feelings, thoughts, or personal qualities so

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to cover up or push down your true feelings, thoughts, or personal qualities so thoroughly that other people do not notice them

例句

Yuki tried to submerge her worry and speak with a calm, steady voice.

submerge + emotion (worry/fear/anger)

Kwame felt his childhood memories being slowly submerged by the routines of adult life.

passive: be submerged by [abstract force]

同義詞
  • suppress

    suggests a conscious, active effort to stop a feeling from showing

  • repress

    often describes a subconscious or psychological pushing-down of thoughts or memories

  • conceal

    more general; can apply to both abstract things and physical objects

反義詞
  • express

    to show feelings openly

  • reveal

    to make something known that was hidden

文法句型

submerge + emotion/thought/quality

submerge + feeling + in/under [something]

用法筆記

The object is typically an emotion, thought, or personal quality — something internal rather than physical. Not used for hiding physical objects; use 'hide' or 'bury' for those cases.

常見錯誤

❌He submerged the letter under a pile of books.
✅He hid the letter under a pile of books.
💡this sense of 'submerge' is only for abstract things like feelings and thoughts, not physical objects.
❌She submerged her happiness about the promotion.
✅She tried to hide her happiness about the promotion, but her smile gave it away.
💡'submerge' fits better for emotions that are actively pushed down or concealed, not for brief moments of hiding a feeling.