flood

noun \ ˈfləd \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: flood in a Sentence

Definition of flood

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 : floodlight

See flood defined for English-language learners

See flood defined for kids

Examples of flood in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of flood from the Web

After heavy rainfall caused damaging floods in historic Ellicott City last month, local businesses and organizations of all types are showing support.

— anna muckerman, baltimoresun.com, "Concerts, festivals and more events supporting Ellicott City flood relief," 12 June 2018
These marine ecosystems act as natural barriers to waves, storms and floods, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

— NBC News, "Decimation of reefs would send flood, storm damage costs soaring, study says," 12 June 2018
But the church’s plans to build a community for Haitians hit a roadblock when civil defense officials said there was a flood risk and barred further construction.

— Washington Post, "Tijuana’s ‘Little Haiti’ stalled but migrants planting roots," 11 June 2018
Even if no tropical system developers, forecasters warned the system could dump heavy rain on flood prone areas in Nicaragua, Honduras and other parts of Central America as well as the Yucatan through Thursday.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Hurricane forecasters watching another wave of storms stirring in the Caribbean," 11 June 2018
But the church's plans to build a community for Haitians hit a roadblock when civil defense officials said there was a flood risk and barred further construction.

— nancy moya, Fox News, "Tijuana's 'Little Haiti' stalled but migrants planting roots," 11 June 2018
Although there were no reports of floods in Indianapolis as of 5 p.m., the National Weather Service is forecasting afternoon and evening storms will bring up to another three quarters of an inch of rain Sunday.

— tom leyden, Indianapolis Star, "Severe weather possible across Central Indiana for the next several hours," 10 June 2018
In May, Brown proposed placing $3.2 billion into the state’s budget reserve for unexpected expenses like wildfires and floods.

— melody gutierrez, SFChronicle.com, "Homeless programs get an extra $600 million in California budget deal," 8 June 2018
Trying to mitigate floods or improve water quality?

— nina maclaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, "Why beavers matter; snapshot of history through furniture; Nantucket book fest," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flood.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flood

Middle English, from Old English flōd; akin to Old High German fluot flood, Old English flōwan to flow

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

flood Synonyms

Other Bible Terms

antediluvian, apocalyptic, apocrypha, behemoth

flood

verb

Definition of flood

flooded; flooding; floods

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1 : to pour forth, go, or come in a flood

2 : to become filled with a flood

—

flooder

noun

See flood defined for English-language learners

Examples of flood in a Sentence

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 of flood from the Web

Some 200 people came out in a road-flooding downpour last week for a rally for Lindsey Davis Stover in the western part of the district.

— New York Times, "Virginia Primary Puts Democrats’ Spirit of ’17 to the Test," 12 June 2018
The rule was in contrast to past practice where hundreds of people flood into the Capitol, especially when the General Assembly is in session, to rally in support of various causes.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Blocked from Capitol, 'Poor People' advocates back in Frankfort today," 11 June 2018
Democrats quickly charged that Pai had ignored roughly 22 million comments that flooded the agency as part of its official deliberations.

— Anchorage Daily News, "The Web as you know it may soon be altered," 11 June 2018
The market for these vehicles is incredibly dynamic and flooded with extreme competition, producing prices that range from a high of about $1,000 down to somewhere below $150.

— peter wayner, The Atlantic, "The New York City Subway Is Beyond Repair," 9 June 2018
What is the effect when testosterone is flooding the system in your teens or twenties?

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Is the World Done With Liberal Democracy?," 1 June 2018
Khaki trench coats and little black dresses are being tossed aside for leopard spots, zebra stripes, and snakeskin, which have flooded our Instagram feeds, shopping sites, and quotidian street corners.

— alice bell, Vogue, "Into the Wild! 5 Chic Ways to Pull Off Head-to-Toe Animal Print," 31 May 2018
The Hazana's cabin was flooded with water; Tami pumped it out.

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "The Crushing True Story Behind 'Adrift'—and How Tami Oldham Ashcraft Survived at Sea," 30 May 2018
At first, this force is strong like rapids, flooding everything.

— angela garbes, Health.com, "I Had a Miscarriage at 30 and 35—and Each One Felt Wildly Different," 29 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of flood

see ¹flood

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1663

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

flood Synonyms

Synonyms

deluge, drown, engulf, gulf, inundate, overflow, overwhelm, submerge, submerse, swamp;

Antonyms

drain;

Near Antonyms

dehydrate, dry, parch;

Related Words

avalanche, smother;

overcome, overrun;

flow, flush, gush, pour, sluice, spout, spurt, stream;

douse (also dowse), drench, soak, wet;

FLOOD Defined for English Language Learners

flood

noun

Definition of flood for English Language Learners

: a large amount of water covering an area of land that is usually dry
the Flood : a flood described in the Bible as covering the earth in the time of Noah
: a large amount of things that come or happen at the same time

flood

verb

Definition of flood for English Language Learners

: to cover (land) with a flood
: to become filled or covered by a flood
: to fill (something) completely

FLOOD Defined for Kids

flood

noun \ ˈfləd \

Definition of flood for Students

1 : a huge flow of water that rises and spreads over the land

2 : the flowing in of the tide

3 : a very large number or amount

a flood of mail

flood

verb

Definition of flood for Students

flooded; flooding

1 : to cover or become filled with water

2 : to fill as if with a flood

Sunlight flooded her room.

Medical Dictionary

flood

intransitive verb \ ˈfləd \

medical Definition of flood

: to have an excessive menstrual flow or a uterine hemorrhage after childbirth

Learn More about flood

See words that rhyme with flood Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flood Spanish Central: Translation of flood Nglish: Translation of flood for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flood for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flood

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flood

Definition of flood

Examples of flood in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flood from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flood

flood Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Bible Terms

flood

Definition of flood

flooder

Examples of flood in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flood from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flood

flood Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to FLOOD

Related Phrases

FLOOD Defined for English Language Learners

flood

Definition of flood for English Language Learners

flood

Definition of flood for English Language Learners

FLOOD Defined for Kids

flood

Definition of flood for Students

flood

Definition of flood for Students

Medical Dictionary

flood

medical Definition of flood

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