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.
And if one afternoon among the plants isn’t enough, Flora offers a way to fully immerse yourself. — Jaha Nailah Avery, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026 Unlike traditional video games where the player stares at a screen, VR seeks to place the player inside the game and fully immerse them in this new world. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Israel didn’t attend Jewish summer camp, but relished the opportunity to immerse herself in the culture. — Stephen Silver, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Up to 96% of the lunar disk will be immersed in Earth's inner shadow at the point of maximum eclipse. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Aug. 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 8 Aug. 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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