In this one word substitute question, select the single word that best replaces the phrase "to sweep over something so as to surround it completely".

Introduction / Context:
One word substitute questions test your ability to match longer descriptive phrases with precise, compact vocabulary. The phrase here is "to sweep over something so as to surround it completely". This kind of wording is often used in descriptions of natural disasters, emotions, or physical processes. You must find the verb that most accurately captures the idea of surrounding or covering something on all sides.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The descriptive phrase is "to sweep over something so as to surround it completely".
• The options are "engulf", "imbibe", "drown", "plunge", and "immerse".
• Only one word should match the core idea of surrounding or swallowing up completely.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea in the phrase is total covering or surrounding, often in a powerful or overwhelming way. The verb "engulf" is typically used in English to mean "to surround and cover completely", as when flames engulf a house or grief engulfs a person. Other words in the options describe taking in liquid, going under water, or jumping in, but they do not exactly convey the idea of something sweeping over and surrounding completely from the outside.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase "sweep over" and "surround it completely". This suggests an external force covering something on all sides. Step 2: Consider "engulf". Common usage includes "The town was engulfed by floodwaters" or "He was engulfed by despair", both showing complete surrounding or overwhelming. Step 3: Evaluate "imbibe". This means to drink or absorb, especially liquids or knowledge, but it does not usually describe something sweeping over an external object. Step 4: Evaluate "drown". This means to die or cause to die by submersion in water. It focuses on the result of suffocation rather than the act of surrounding. Step 5: Evaluate "plunge". This is to jump or fall suddenly, often into water or some activity. It describes movement into something, not something sweeping over something else. Step 6: Evaluate "immerse". This means to put something fully into liquid, again focusing on placing an object inside something rather than something sweeping over it. Step 7: Only "engulf" directly matches the idea of an outside force covering and surrounding an object completely.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of typical newspaper lines like "The village was engulfed by the lava flow" or "The car was engulfed in flames". Replacing "engulfed" with "drowned" or "plunged" would sound wrong and change the meaning. In emotional contexts, we also say "He was engulfed by sadness", where the feeling seems to sweep over and surround him. This confirms that "engulf" is the most suitable one word substitute.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Imbibe" focuses on internal absorption like drinking or taking in ideas. "Drown" stresses death by water rather than being surrounded. "Plunge" indicates sudden movement downwards or into something, not surrounding from outside. "Immerse" involves submerging an object into a liquid, which reverses the direction of the action described in the phrase. None of these words naturally collocate with "sweeping over and surrounding completely" the way "engulf" does.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often pick words like "drown" or "immerse" because they imagine water surrounding someone. However, the phrase in the question is from the viewpoint of the external force sweeping over an object, which aligns more precisely with "engulf". To avoid such confusion, always read the whole phrase carefully and consider whether the direction and focus of the action truly match the option you are choosing.

Final Answer:
The best one word substitute is engulf.