engulfed

Engulfed is the past participle and adjective of the verb engulf. It describes something that has been surrounded or swallowed up by a surrounding mass or surface, leaving little or no space for escape. It typically implies complete enclosure or submersion.

In physical contexts, being engulfed means being surrounded by fire, water, smoke, lava, or other material. Common phrases include "engulfed in flames" or "engulfed by floodwaters." The term is used for natural disasters, industrial accidents, and other overwhelming phenomena when objects, locations, or people are overtaken.

In biology and medicine, engulfment describes a cellular process in which a cell surrounds and ingests particles, such as bacteria, through phagocytosis. The concept is central to immune defense and clearance of debris.

Metaphorically, engulfed can describe feelings, attention, or crowds that overwhelm or dominate a person or situation, e.g., "engulfed by grief" or "engulfed by media coverage." In usage, it often pairs with in or by to indicate the source of engulfment.

The term is widely used across journalism, narrative writing, and scientific contexts to convey total enclosure and overpowering force.