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

• flood
• torrent

Verb

• flood
• engulf

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

Local police officer Imtiaz Khan, who narrowly escaped the deluges, said floodwaters carrying hundreds of boulders struck and flattened homes within minutes. —Muhammad Sajjad, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025

Last month, the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country region of Texas rapidly rose due to an overnight deluge on July 4 that led to the deaths of at least 135 people, including at least 27 campers and counselors at the Christian Camp Mystic summer camp along the banks of the Guadalupe. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025

Verb

South Florida streets frequently flood when heavy rains hit the region, not to mention get deluged with storm surge during hurricane and tropical storm events. —Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

The Village of Ruidoso confirmed the fatalities in a statement late Tuesday night, after monsoon-like rains deluged the region and overwhelmed its waterways. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025

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

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