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August 20, 2026

engulf

/ɪŋˈɡʌlf/verb

To swallow up or completely cover something.

Example sentences

  • “Within minutes, flames engulfed the abandoned warehouse.”
  • “A wave of panic engulfed him when he realized his wallet was gone.”

Flames and floods are the classic subjects; figuratively, crises engulf governments and grief engulfs people. The scale is always overwhelming.

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