av·a·lanche
ˈa-və-ˌlanch 
1
: a large mass of snow, ice, earth, rock, or other material in swift motion down a mountainside or over a precipice
2
: a sudden great or overwhelming rush or accumulation of something
hit by an avalanche of paperwork
3
physics
: a cumulative process in which photons or accelerated charge carriers produce additional photons or charge carriers through collisions (as with gas molecules)
Examples of avalanche in a Sentence
Noun
He was buried by an avalanche.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Sherman, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
The couple wanted to show them in a different light, David Bassett said, by teaching them to do avalanche work, much like the rescue work done by search-and-rescue dogs.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023
The hillsides along Summit Lake will avalanche.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for avalanche
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Noun
But with Disney’s decision to give the direct-to-consumer service away for no additional cost to cable subscribers, the product’s launch likely won’t cause an avalanche of cable subscription cancellations.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
The couple wanted to show them in a different light, David Bassett said, by teaching them to do avalanche work, much like the rescue work done by search-and-rescue dogs.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
James and the Lakers were getting avalanched, but a run to undo a 17-point deficit got them to within a point before the Memphis Grizzlies smothered them with a barrage of baskets.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023
The hillsides along Summit Lake will avalanche.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for avalanche
Cite this Entry
“Avalanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avalanche. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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