Immerse
/ɪˈmɜrs/
verbB2
Definition
Immerse means to put something all the way into a liquid so it is covered or to become very involved in an activity, idea, or environment. It is often used when talking about learning, studying, or experiencing something deeply.
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See It in Action
To put something completely into a liquid
- •She immersed the vegetables in cold water to clean them.
- •The diver immersed himself in the ocean to explore the coral reef.
- •Immerse the cloth in warm water before cleaning the stain.
To become deeply involved in an activity or experience
- •He immersed himself in learning the new language by practicing every day.
- •When reading the novel, she was completely immersed in the story.
- •Students were encouraged to immerse themselves in the culture during their trip.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'immerse' like 'put' (A1 word), but it means putting something fully inside, not just a little bit
- ✓Picture a glass of water and dropping a spoon inside until it is all under the water surface
- ✓It's the feeling when you forget everything else because you are so focused on a book, game, or project
- ✓Sounds like 'I'm MERSE' → imagine someone saying 'I'm in the MERSE' (like a big sea), totally covered by water or an experience
- ✓Imagine a scuba diver going underwater, surrounded by the sea, fully inside a new world
- ✓NOT like 'dip' (put in quickly and take out), 'immerse' means staying fully inside for some time
- ✓NOT like 'try' (just beginning), 'immerse' means going deep and not just starting something
- ✓NOT like 'watch' (passive), 'immerse' means active involvement or full covering
Try Other Words
- •Submerge: to put completely under water (Use when talking only about liquids and full coverage)
- •Engage: to take part fully in an activity (Use when talking about involvement, not liquids)
- •Plunge: to jump or fall quickly into liquid or an activity (Use when emphasizing sudden or fast action)
- •Absorb: to take in fully, often ideas or information (Use when talking about mental involvement rather than physical)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: 'im-' meaning 'in' or 'into'
- •Root: 'merse' from Latin 'mergere,' meaning 'to dip' or 'to sink'
- •Etymology: Comes from Latin 'immergere,' meaning to put into or under water
- •Historical development: First used in English in the 1600s for physical dipping, later also used for deep involvement in ideas or activities
- •Modern usage: Used both for physical actions (putting things in liquid) and abstract uses (deep mental or emotional involvement)
Reflect & Connect
•How can immersing yourself in a new language help you learn faster compared to just studying a little every day?
•Can you think of a time when you were so immersed in an activity that you lost track of time? What was that experience like?
Fill in the blanks
1.To clean the paintbrush well, you should immerse it ___ water for several minutes.
2.When you immerse yourself in a new culture, you usually ___ many new customs and ways of life.
3.Unlike just touching the surface, to immerse means to be ___ covered or involved.
4.She immersed herself ___ the book and forgot about her phone ringing.
5.You cannot learn a language well if you only study a little; you must immerse ___ it.
6.The diver immersed ___ the cold ocean and explored the underwater world.
7.When someone is immersed in work, they often do not notice ___ around them.