Drown out Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈdɹaʊn/ /ˈaʊt

DROWN-owt

UK

dɹˈaʊn/ /ˈaʊt

drown-OWT

Definition

To make another sound impossible to hear by being louder than it.

Usage & Nuances

Informal, mainly about noise or voices. Usually followed by the thing that is silenced: 'drown out the music.' Not literal drowning; always about one sound covering another.

• Spanish: ahogar (un sonido) - apagar (un sonido)
• Portuguese (BR): abafar (um som) - encobrir (um som)
• Portuguese (PT): abafar (um som) - encobrir (um som)
• Chinese (Simplified): 盖过（声音）
• Chinese (Traditional): 蓋過（聲音）
• Hindi: दबा देना (आवाज़)
• Arabic: يُغطي على (الصوت) - يطغى على (الصوت)
• Bengali: ঢেকে ফেলা (শব্দে) - আওয়াজ ঢাকা
• Russian: перекрывать (звук) - заглушать
• Japanese: かき消す (音を)
• Vietnamese: lấn át (âm thanh)
• Korean: 잠식하다 (소리를) - 들리지 않게 하다
• Turkish: bastırmak (ses)
• Urdu: دبانا (آواز کو) - چھپا دینا (آواز کو)
• Indonesian: menenggelamkan (suara) - mengalahkan (suara)

Example Sentences

Her laughter was so loud, it completely drowned out the music.

natural

You can try to drown out your worries with busy work, but they always come back.

natural

The loud music drowned out our conversation.

basic

The thunder drowned out the teacher's voice.

basic

The fans cheered so loudly they drowned out the announcer.

basic

I turned up the TV to drown out the noise from the street.

natural