2 syllables: Im, mersed. Stress on mersed.
im-URST
/ˌɪˈmɝst/
Immersed is pronounced im-URST (/ˌɪˈmɝst/). It has two syllables (Im-mersed), with the stress on "mersed". Immersed is an adjective meaning soaked or deeply involved in something, especially in a surrounding environment or activity. It often describes being fully engaged or absorbed, as if surrounded by the experience. The term emphasizes depth of involvement and immersion beyond surface exposure, whether physically or metaphorically.
adjectiveImmersed is an adjective meaning soaked or deeply involved in something, especially in a surrounding environment or activity. It often describes being fully engaged or absorbed, as if surrounded by the experience. The term emphasizes depth of involvement and immersion beyond surface exposure, whether physically or metaphorically.
- You might blur the second syllable’s stress, saying im-MERSED without clear emphasis on the second syllable as in /ɪˈmɜːrst/. Practice by isolating the stressed syllable and layering with the unstressed pre-syllable. - Ending cluster issues: avoid over-enunciating the /st/ or turning it into /s/; aim for a quick, clean /st/ closure with minimal voicing. Use minimal pairs like 'burst' vs 'immersed' to lock the final cluster. - Vowel quality: resist turning /ɜː/ into a schwa; keep a steady mid-back vowel with slight rounding if you’re US-based, but don’t overdo it. Record yourself and compare to a model; aim for consistency in the stressed syllable across contexts.
"She was immersed in the novel, unable to put it down."
"The students were immersed in a language-learning program, practicing speaking every day."
"He felt deeply immersed in the project, dedicating long hours to its completion."
Pronounce as /ɪˈmɜːrst/ (US) or /ɪˈmɜːst/ (UK/AU). The primary stress is on the second syllable. Start with a short, lax 'i' (as in kit), then a rhotacized mid-central vowel in the stressed syllable, followed by a clear 'st' ending. Tip: blend the 'mer' with a quick, relaxed mouth position to avoid an extra syllable. Audio reference: you can compare with the verb 'immerse' in dictionaries; the adjective form mirrors the stem closely in pronunciation.
Common errors: (1) Overpronouncing the second syllable, making it two syllables instead of one; keep it /ɜːr/ in a tight, single syllable with /mɜːrst/. (2) Pronouncing the ending as a hard 'ed' sound; use the -ed vowel that matches the following 'st' consonant cluster, yielding /-st/ rather than /-tɪd/. (3) Hint of a drawn-out 'er' or misplacing secondary stress; maintain primary stress on the second syllable and a quick, clipped final cluster. Practice with minimal pairs to lock the /ɜːr/ vs /ɜː/ realization and the cluster /r st/.
US tends to have /ɪˈmɜːrst/ with rhotic /r/ before the /st/ and a slightly longer schwa-like quality in the first syllable. UK and AU typically render it /ɪˈmɜːst/ with non-extra rhoticity in some connected speech, but most educated speakers preserve the rhotic /r/ in careful speech. Diphthongization can vary slightly: US may exhibit a tighter /ɜːr/; UK/AU may reduce to a steadier monophthong in rapid speech. Overall, the key features are the stressed second syllable and the /st/ ending, with minor vowel quality shifts.
The challenge centers on the mid-central vowel in the stressed syllable and the consonant cluster at the end /-rst/. Many learners default to pronouncing it as /ɪˈɪmərst/ or misplacing the /r/ due to unfamiliar American vs British rhotics. Keep the /ɜː/ or /ɜːr/ quality steady in the stressed syllable, and release into a clean /st/ with minimal voicing for the rhythm. Practicing the exact mouth shape—lips relaxed, tongue central for /ɜː/, tip of tongue near alveolar ridge for /r/, and light, crisp /st/—helps reduce both syllable-timing errors and trailing-off.
Because Immersed ends with /st/ and begins with a short /ɪ/ that can blur in fast speech, a common user question is: Is the first syllable truly stressed or is it a reduplication of the second syllable in fluent speech? The answer: The primary stress sits on the second syllable ('mɜːrst'), with the first syllable /ɪ/ reduced in careful speech but fully heard in contrastive contexts. In fast speech, you’ll still hear the second syllable as the main focal point; the 'i' may be barely longer than a schwa in casual speech.
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- US: /ɪˈmɜːrst/. Maintain rhoticity; the /r/ is clearly pronounced before the /st/. Keep the first syllable short and light. /ɜː/ is a tense, mid-back vowel; avoid a lax /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the stressed syllable. - UK: /ɪˈmɜːst/. Slightly shorter first syllable; non-rhotic in casual speech may reduce the /r/ when not followed by a vowel, but in careful speech you should preserve the /r/ before /st/. - AU: /ɪˈmɜːst/. Similar to UK; often more clipped in rapid speech, with a robust /ɜː/ and a crisp /st/. Keep the vowel quality steady and avoid vowel reductions that creep into the stressed syllable. - IPA anchors: remember /ɪ/ for the first vowel, /ˈ/ for stress on the second syllable, /ɜː/ or /ɜːr/ for the nucleus, and /st/ as the terminal cluster. Practice with minimal pairs that switch vowel length or rhotics to feel the difference.
Immersed comes from the verb immerse, which originated in the early 16th century from the French immerse (to plunge), rooted in Latin immersus (poured in, dipped) from mergere (to dip, dip into). The sense of being surrounded or submerged by water carried into figurative use in English to denote deep involvement or fixation. Over time, the adjective form immersed gained traction in the 17th-18th centuries to describe someone completely surrounded by an experience or environment. The word retained the core idea of being covered or enveloped by a medium, whether literal (water) or metaphorical (culture, study). First known uses appear in literary and descriptive prose where authors described characters immersed in scenes, studies, or dialogue, underscoring total engagement rather than partial exposure.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Immersed" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Immersed" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Immersed"
-sed sounds
-ed" sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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