Basic Details
Word: Drowned
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Died under water from being unable to breathe; also, made a sound impossible to hear by being louder.
Synonyms: submerged, flooded, swamped, muffled
How to Spell Drowned
Syllables: drowned
Tricky part: The word is just drown + ed. Many people say drown-ded aloud and then write an extra d.
Watch out for: drownded, drownd, drouned
Memory tip: If you hear yourself say drown-ded, stop: there is no second d. Write drown, then add -ed and nothing else.
Idioms and Phrases
- like a drowned rat: completely soaking wet Example: "We came home from the football match like drowned rats after the downpour."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Her voice was drowned by the roar of the passing train.
Example 2: Whole rice fields lay drowned under a metre of muddy water.
Example 3: The lifeguard reached the swimmer long before he could have drowned.
Fun Fact
Real drowning is often silent: a person in serious trouble usually cannot wave or shout, so lifeguards watch for swimmers who sit low in the water with their heads tilted back.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The excited chants of the crowd almost drownded the announcer's voice as the two teams walked out onto the field.
a) teams
b) excited
c) drownded
d) announcer's
Show answer
c) drownded. There is no extra d in drowned; it is drown plus -ed.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word drowned as used in the sentence:
The clatter of steel plates from the kitchen drowned the sound of the temple bells.
a) muffled
b) amplified
c) announced
d) echoed
Show answer
a) muffled. A louder noise that covers a softer one muffles it, so you can no longer hear the bells.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. resusitated 2. drowned 3. lifegaurd 4. sufficated
a) died under water because of being unable to breathe
b) brought back to consciousness
c) unable to breathe because of a lack of air
d) a person who keeps watch over swimmers
Show answer
a) died under water because of being unable to breathe. Suffocated has a double f and an o, resuscitated hides a c after the s, and lifeguard puts u before a.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If loud music drowned out your voice, it ____.
a) echoed back to you
b) made you sound louder
c) stopped people hearing you
d) helped you sing in tune
Show answer
c) stopped people hearing you
2. Someone who looks like a drowned rat is ____.
a) fast asleep
b) very hungry
c) deeply worried
d) soaking wet
Show answer
d) soaking wet
