to swamp vs. inundate vs. engulf (draft)

Дата публикации: Aug 01, 2021 6:11:43 PM

swamp verb BrE /swɒmp/ ; NAmE /swɑːmp/ [often passive]

1. to make somebody have more of something than they can deal with

synonym inundate

swamp somebody/something with something The department was swamped with job applications.

swamp somebody/something In summer visitors swamp the island.

2. swamp something to fill or cover something with a lot of water

synonym engulf

The little boat was swamped by the waves.

Word Origin early 17th cent.: probably ultimately from a Germanic base meaning ‘sponge’ or ‘fungus’.

Extra examples

Huge tidal waves swamped the town.

Radio stations have been swamped with requests to play the song.

The little boat was swamped by a huge wave.

This is a big task and I am finding myself swamped.

inundate verb BrE /ˈɪnʌndeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪnʌndeɪt/ [usually passive]

1. inundate somebody (with something) to give or send somebody so many things that they cannot deal with them all

synonym overwhelm, swamp

We have been inundated with offers of help.

2. inundate something (formal) to cover an area of land with a large amount of water

synonym flood

Flood waters inundate the river plain each spring.

Word Origin late 16th cent.: (earlier (late Middle English) as inundation) from Latin inundat- ‘flooded’, from the verb inundare, from in- ‘into, upon’ + undare ‘to flow’ (from unda ‘a wave’).

Extra examples

Fans inundated the radio station with calls.

Many sheep were lost in the floods and the city was inundated.

She’s inundated with work at the moment.

engulf verb BrE /ɪnˈɡʌlf/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈɡʌlf/ (formal)

1. engulf somebody/something to surround or to cover somebody/something completely

He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters.

The vehicle was engulfed in flames.

2. engulf somebody/something to affect somebody/something very strongly

Fear engulfed her.

Word Origin mid 16th cent. (formerly also as ingulf): from en-, in- ‘in, on’ + gulf.