die through submersion in and inhalation of water:a motorist drowned when her car plunged off the edge of a quay (be drowned)two fishermen were drowned when their motor boat capsized
[with object] deliberately kill (a person or animal) by drowning:he immediately drowned four of the dogs
[with object] submerge or flood (an area):when the ice melted the valleys were drowned
[with object] (of a sound) make (another sound) inaudible by being much louder:his voice was drowned out by the approaching engine noise
[no object] (be drowning in) be overwhelmed by a large amount of something:both business and household sectors are drowning in debtart dealers are still drowning in a sea of paperwork
[with object] (drown something in) cover or immerse food in:good pizza is not eight inches thick and drowned in tomato sauce
drown one's sorrows
forget one’s problems by getting drunk:he bought a bottle of whisky to drown his sorrows
like a drowned rat
extremely wet and bedraggled:she arrived at the church looking like a drowned rat
