drown

/dɹaʊn/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: drowns

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To die from suffocation while immersed in water or other fluid.

Verb

Examples

When I was a baby, I nearly drowned in the bathtub.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To kill by suffocating in water or another liquid.

Verb

Examples

The car thief fought with an officer and tried to drown a police dog before being shot while escaping.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “drown” mean?

To die from suffocation while immersed in water or other fluid.

Is “drown” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.