Meaning & use
engulf
Last updated
to completely surround, cover, or overwhelm something.
See it in a sentence
Flames quickly engulfed the abandoned barn.
She was engulfed by a wave of relief when the test results came back clear.
A note on using this word
Often used figuratively for strong emotions ('engulfed by grief') as well as literally for fire, water, or darkness.
Words with a similar meaning
envelopoverwhelmswamp
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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