1
a
: a rising and overflowing of a body of water especially onto normally dry land
The flood inundated the whole area.
also
: a condition of overflowing
rivers in flood
b
capitalized
: a flood described in the Bible as covering the earth in the time of Noah
2
: the flowing in of the tide
3
: an overwhelming quantity or volume
received a flood of phone calls
also
: a state of abundant flow or volume or of greatest activity
—often used in the phrase in full flood
a debate in full flood
a political movement in full flood
4
flooded; flooding; floods
1
: to cover with a flood : inundate
2
a
: to fill abundantly or excessively
flood the market
b
: to supply an excess of fuel to (an engine, a carburetor, etc.) so that engine operation is hampered
flooder
noun
Synonyms
Examples of flood in a Sentence
Noun
A flood inundated the whole area.
the devastating flood of 1936
The water has risen to flood level.
We've received a flood of mail.
a flood of phone calls
Seeing her again brought back a flood of memories.
Verb
Heavy rains flooded the valley.
The rivers are close to flooding.
The valley flooded after the heavy rains.
The plain floods every spring.
The room was flooded with light.
The company plans to flood the market with this product.
The office has been flooded with phone calls.
The phone calls have been flooding in.
Refugees flooded into the camp.
Light flooded into the room.
Recent Examples on the Web
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024
Implement further water quality and flood control programs to protect water resources.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2024
As the deadline for flood victims to apply for federal aid arrives Friday, the disaster recovery centers set up in San Diego County are being converted into disaster loan outreach centers.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
For the past dozen years, scientists and others have been focusing on extreme weather such as heat waves, floods, droughts, storms as the having the biggest climate impact.
—Seth Borenstein, Quartz, 17 Apr. 2024
Rare rainfall floods Dubai A spate of heavy rain in a normally arid part of the world has left roadways and buildings flooded and several people dead.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024
In Colorado, for example, I-70 was impacted by a combination of fires and floods.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
When permafrost melts, ground can become unstable, causing rockslides, floods and damage to Indigenous communities.
—Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The river is expected to fall below its flood stage of 6 feet.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Anna Chernova, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
In July 2010, another severe storm flooded the road but the berm prevented water from entering the ballpark.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
China is increasingly growing its influence and power in the green energy industry, leaving U.S. and European officials worried about being flooded by the country’s subsidized exports.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Regardless of how otherworldly this event is and how much planning people have dedicated to experiencing it in person, the internet is being the internet and providing an eclipse experience of its own.
GIFs, quips and skits are flooding social media platforms like X on Monday.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Cleveland dispatched traffic officers across the city to facilitate movement on the roads, flooded with cars both for the eclipse and the Cleveland Guardians' home opener.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
But be careful because counterfeit glasses have flooded marketplaces for weeks leading up to the big event.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Sinclair went to prison in 1969, but a movement to free Sinclair from what his supporters called cruel and unusual punishment flooded the country and spread across borders.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2024
Water rushing from the dam burst downstream, devastating nearby towns and eventually flooding over 400 square kilometers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024
Implement further water quality and flood control programs to protect water resources.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2024
As the deadline for flood victims to apply for federal aid arrives Friday, the disaster recovery centers set up in San Diego County are being converted into disaster loan outreach centers.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
For the past dozen years, scientists and others have been focusing on extreme weather such as heat waves, floods, droughts, storms as the having the biggest climate impact.
—Seth Borenstein, Quartz, 17 Apr. 2024
Rare rainfall floods Dubai A spate of heavy rain in a normally arid part of the world has left roadways and buildings flooded and several people dead.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024
In Colorado, for example, I-70 was impacted by a combination of fires and floods.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
When permafrost melts, ground can become unstable, causing rockslides, floods and damage to Indigenous communities.
—Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The river is expected to fall below its flood stage of 6 feet.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Verb
In Russia’s Orenburg region, nearly 13,000 residential buildings were flooded, forcing more than 7,700 people to be evacuated, the local government said Wednesday.
—Anna Chernova, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
In July 2010, another severe storm flooded the road but the berm prevented water from entering the ballpark.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
China is increasingly growing its influence and power in the green energy industry, leaving U.S. and European officials worried about being flooded by the country’s subsidized exports.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Regardless of how otherworldly this event is and how much planning people have dedicated to experiencing it in person, the internet is being the internet and providing an eclipse experience of its own.
GIFs, quips and skits are flooding social media platforms like X on Monday.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Cleveland dispatched traffic officers across the city to facilitate movement on the roads, flooded with cars both for the eclipse and the Cleveland Guardians' home opener.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
But be careful because counterfeit glasses have flooded marketplaces for weeks leading up to the big event.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Sinclair went to prison in 1969, but a movement to free Sinclair from what his supporters called cruel and unusual punishment flooded the country and spread across borders.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2024
Water rushing from the dam burst downstream, devastating nearby towns and eventually flooding over 400 square kilometers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flood.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flood
Cite this Entry
“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flood. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flood
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a great flow of water that rises and spreads over the land
b
capitalized
: a flood described in the Bible as covering the earth in the time of Noah
2
: the flowing in of the tide
3
: an overwhelming quantity or volume
a flood of mail
flood
2 of 2 verb1
: to cover or become filled with a flood
2
: to fill as if with a flood
a room flooded with light
flood a carburetor
3
: to pour forth, go, or come in a flood
Medical Definition
flood
intransitive verb
: to have an excessive menstrual flow or a uterine hemorrhage after childbirth
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