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Definition of "engulf" []

  • To swallow up or overwhelm by or as if by overflowing and enclosing: The spring tide engulfed the beach houses. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "engulf" in a sentence
  • "On the one hand, opponents say a public plan option will be so popular that it will "engulf" the private insurance market -- repeatedly citing the Lewin study that we've already discussed here."
  • "MSPs would launch a revolution that would "engulf" Scotland and put socialism back on the agenda across Europe."
  • "As the river sweeps away our words and thoughts, our mind gets out of the way to make room for the waves of joy that will soon engulf us and take us on unfathomable spiritual journeys."