French word

sombrer

Pronunciation

IPA/sɔ̃bʁe/

Meaning

  • verbsink

Example

Le bateau commence à sombrer.

The boat is beginning to sink.

Illustration for sombrer (sink)

More examples

Après la rupture, il a sombré dans le désespoir.

After the breakup, he sank into despair.

Core concept

A vessel vanishes below the waterline, and the same downward plunge can describe a person or situation entering distress or ruin.

Common phrases

  • commencer à sombrer

    begin to sink

  • sombrer dans le désespoir

    sink into despair

  • sombrer dans l'oubli

    sink into oblivion

Similar words

couler: To sink underwater and no longer remain afloat.
s'enfoncer: To become deeply embedded in the ground or mud under its own weight.
plonger: To dive downward with force.
chuter: To fall suddenly from a high place or position.

Definition in French

S'enfoncer vers le bas, concrètement (comme un navire qui sombre) ou figurément (s'enfoncer dans la détresse, la ruine).

Word origin

Sombrer descends through older French from Latin submergere, formed with sub- meaning 'under' and mergere meaning 'plunge', before gaining figurative senses of collapse.

Usage tips

  • In figurative uses, sombrer commonly takes dans, as in sombrer dans la détresse or sombrer dans la ruine.

Other meanings

  • declineverb
  • lapse into ___verb

Opposites

Word lists with this word