deluge

1 of 2

noun

del·​uge ˈdel-ˌyüj How to pronounce deluge (audio)
-ˌyüzh;
nonstandard
də-ˈlüj How to pronounce deluge (audio)
ˈdā-ˌlüj
1
a
: an overflowing of the land by water
b
: a drenching rain
a deluge causing mudslides in the area
2
: an overwhelming amount or number
received a deluge of angry phone calls

deluge

2 of 2

verb

deluged; deluging

transitive verb

1
: to overflow with water : inundate
2
: overwhelm, swamp
The store was deluged with complaints.

Examples of deluge in a Sentence

Noun The deluge caused severe mudslides. a deluge of thanks and appreciation for the returning troops Verb Heavy rains deluged the region. deluged with requests for help
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Luna said the alleged doxxing led to a deluge of harassing messages. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 June 2025 Antetokounmpo could be the domino that triggers a deluge of offseason activity either way. Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Verb
Some providers diagnosing and treating people with autism have been deluged by requests to scrub their data and cancel appointments, multiple federal health officials told CBS News, over concerns about patient privacy and worries it would be used to support unfounded claims. Melissa Gaffney, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025 Parents would be deluged with paperwork informing them of every minor detail of any upcoming lesson. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deluge

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "flood, Noah's flood, storm," borrowed from Anglo-French deluvie, deluge (also continental Old French), in part loan, in part descent from Latin dīluvium "flood, inundation," from dīluere "to wash away, make thinner by mixing with water" + -ium, deverbal noun suffix — more at dilute entry 1

Verb

derivative of deluge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deluge was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deluge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deluge. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

deluge

1 of 2 noun
del·​uge ˈdel-yüj How to pronounce deluge (audio)
1
a
: an overflowing of the land by water : flood
b
: a drenching rain
2
: an overwhelming amount or number
a deluge of Christmas mail

deluge

2 of 2 verb
deluged; deluging
1
: to overflow with water : inundate, flood
2
: to overwhelm as if with a deluge
deluged with inquiries

More from Merriam-Webster on deluge

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