swallow up

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Definition

Verb (transitive): * To completely enclose, envelop, or overwhelm something, making it disappear from view or cease to exist independently. This verb describes a situation where a larger entity consumes or absorbs a smaller one, often in a sudden or forceful manner.

Usage and Examples
  • The primary meaning is literal or figurative absorption where the smaller object is lost within the larger.
    • The dense fog swallowed up the entire city, reducing visibility to zero.
    • The large corporation swallowed up several of its smaller competitors.
  • It often implies a sense of finality or disappearance.
    • Her personal life was swallowed up by the demands of her career.
    • The vast desert can swallow up travelers who are not prepared.
Advanced Usage
  • Economic/Financial Context: Frequently used to describe mergers, acquisitions, or costs that completely consume resources.
    • The legal fees swallowed up most of the inheritance.
    • The startup was swallowed up by a tech giant last year.
  • Emotional Context: Can describe being overwhelmed by a feeling.
    • A wave of grief swallowed her up after the news.
Variants and Related Words
  • Swallow (verb): The base verb, meaning to cause something to pass through the mouth and throat into the stomach. It can be used figuratively in a similar way to "swallow up" but is sometimes less intense.
    • He swallowed his pride and apologized.
  • Engulf: A very close synonym, meaning to sweep over or surround completely.
  • Consume: Can mean to use up or to absorb one's attention completely.
Synonyms
  • Engulf
  • Envelop
  • Overwhelm
  • Consume
  • Enclose
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Take over: To gain control of. While similar, "take over" focuses more on control, whereas "swallow up" focuses on absorption and disappearance.
    • The company was taken over (control changed) and then gradually swallowed up (lost its identity).
  • Eat up: Can be used informally in a similar figurative sense for consuming resources or time.
    • The project ate up all our savings.
Related Idioms
  • Swallow whole: To accept something completely without question or criticism.
    • Don't just swallow the story whole; be skeptical.
    • (Note: This idiom uses the base verb "swallow," not the phrasal verb "swallow up.")
Verb
  1. enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing
    • The huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly thereafter

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