deluge

1 of 2

noun

del·​uge ˈdel-ˌyüj 

-ˌyüzh;

nonstandard

də-ˈlüj 

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.

Synonyms

Noun

• alluvion
• bath
• cataclysm
• cataract
• flood
• flood tide
• inundation
• Niagara
• overflow
• spate
• torrent

Verb

• drown
• engulf
• flood
• gulf
• inundate
• overflow
• overwhelm
• submerge
• submerse
• swamp

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

Noun

But it could by no means be disguised as a deluge, certainly not the sort of dramatic downpour that punctuates a long dry spell and makes a dent in a drought. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 12 July 2024

The calls came in a deluge as Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7. —Noam Barkan, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2024

Verb

Small packages worth often much less than the $800 threshold are deluging U.S. gateways daily. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

In just the past week or so, catastrophic flooding deluged the Midwest, the military attempted a coup in Bolivia, an Arkansas man shot and killed four people in a grocery store, and wildfires went on ravaging the Arctic Circle. —Cory Leadbeater, The Atlantic, 1 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French deluje, from Latin diluvium, from diluere to wash away, from dis- + lavere to wash — more at lye

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

deluge

1 of 2 noun

del·​uge ˈdel-yüj 

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