drowning
When someone or something is drowning, they're struggling to stay above water.
The word "drowning" is often used in emergency situations, like when a person falls into deep water and can't swim well enough to breathe. You might hear people shouting for help as they try to save the drowning person. The word can also refer to a situation where something is being overwhelmed by its own problems or needs – for example, "The city was drowning in debt" means it had too much financial burden.
In some cases, "drown" can be used as an adjective, describing how someone is dressed: "She wore the old shoes and said they would drown her feet," meaning they were so uncomfortable. This sense of the word relies on a more general idea of being overwhelmed – if your feet are drowning in a pair of shoes, you're probably feeling really uncomfortable.
How common is "drowning"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
verb
To die from suffocation while immersed in water or other fluid.
noun
An instance of a person or animal drowning.
Example: It's dangerous to swim in that river — there were three drownings there last year.
Real examples of "drowning" in context
