immerse

verb

im·​merse i-ˈmərs How to pronounce immerse (audio)
immersed; immersing
Synonyms of immerse

transitive verb

1
: to plunge into something that surrounds or covers
especially : to plunge or dip into a fluid
Immerse the fabric completely.
2
: engross, absorb
completely immersed in his work
3
: to baptize by immersion

Synonyms of immerse

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Examples of immerse in a Sentence

Immerse the fabric completely in the dye. She had immersed herself in writing short stories. He immersed himself in the culture of the island.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even more surreal has been being immersed in it as part of The Star’s visual coverage. — Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026 These lines reveal the perspective of someone who has been immersed in one medium for too long and is now busy idealizing another. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 Public spaces present exhibits that immerse you in the nostalgia of the Golden Age of air travel. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The second involved filling a salad spinner with water and immersing the berries for one minute while stirring them by hand before draining and spinning them for 10 seconds. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for immerse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin immersus, past participle of immergere, from in- + mergere to merge

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of immerse was in 1605

Rhymes for immerse

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Browse Nearby Words

immersal
immerse
immersed wedge
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Immerse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immerse. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

immerse

verb
im·​merse im-ˈərs How to pronounce immerse (audio)
immersed; immersing
1
: to plunge into something (as a fluid) that surrounds or covers
2
: to become completely involved in
immersed in a good book
immersion
-ˈər-zhən, 
-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on immerse

Nglish: Translation of immerse for Spanish Speakers

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