flood

\ ˈfləd

Definition of flood

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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 flooda political movement in full flood

4 : floodlight

flood

verb

flooded; flooding; floods

Definition of flood (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cover with a flood : inundate

2a : 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

Other Words from flood Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about flood

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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: Noun Court officials and social service experts fear a flood of evictions if a moratorium that has stopped landlords from removing tenants for failing to pay rent expires Sept. 1. — Stephen Hudak, orlandosentinel.com, "Orange County prepares launch of eviction relief program," 14 Aug. 2020 Much of the work was damaged by the flood, which caused the water level to increase to about 10 feet deep, according to a nearby U.S. Geological Survey gauge. — Erin Stone, The Arizona Republic, "Protesters at the San Pedro River say the border wall threatens habitat, risks flooding," 14 Aug. 2020 The furniture bank collects donations of household items and gives them free of charge to help families moving into a new home after a fire or flood, or a period of homelessness. — Julie Washington, cleveland, "Decluttering during the pandemic is creating flood of stuff at thrift stores: Here’s how and where to donate," 12 Aug. 2020 Just this week, the country had its third major flood of the year, which caused runoff into the Yangtze river. — Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, "See How Teslas Are Basically Boats," 12 Aug. 2020 Days after the devastating flood—which washed away crops as well as homes in both Uzbekistan and neighbouring Kazakhstan, causing over $1bn of damage—the president formed a task force to investigate. — The Economist, "Weirs and wherefores A dam failure raises concerns about corruption in Uzbekistan," 8 Aug. 2020 California has been overwhelmed with a flood of applications for jobless benefits during the pandemic — more than 6.8 million since mid-March. — Kellie Hwang, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: The case of the missing coronavirus data," 3 Aug. 2020 The flood of tourists — and the lax policy on masks — appears to have contributed to an uptick in coronavirus cases. — Washington Post, "Myrtle Beach reopened to survive the summer. Now, it’s a coronavirus ‘petri dish.’," 1 July 2020 Millions of small-time investors have opened trading accounts in recent months, a flood of new buyers unlike anything the market had seen in years, just as lockdown orders halted entire sectors of the economy and sent unemployment soaring. — Matt Phillips, BostonGlobe.com, "Trading sportsbooks for brokerages, bored bettors wager on stocks," 15 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb For the most part, Hanson said, Huron County is a quiet community with only about 31,000 residents, but in the summer, tourists flood the area and that's why the department needs part-time deputies. — Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, "Huron County sheriff's deputy charged with indecent exposure in his home," 15 Aug. 2020 The Trump administration is planning to flood out regulators with a new definition for showerheads that will allow the president and other citizens to return to the good old days of high-pressured showers. — Madison Dibble, Washington Examiner, "Trump administration looks to sink regulations on showerheads," 13 Aug. 2020 On a local level, Crenshaw also talked about some ongoing federal projects to help flood mitigation in Cypress Creek. — Paul Wedding, Houston Chronicle, "Dan Crenshaw talks COVID efforts with Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce," 7 Aug. 2020 The smell itself is so recognizable that memories instantly flood in, stirring not nostalgia but hunger and the promise of total bliss. — André Aciman, Town & Country, "How a Pandemic Brought Us Back to the Table," 18 June 2020 The research attributed much of the decline in hatchlings to rising sea levels, which now routinely flood the nesting beaches, potentially drowning the next generation of turtles. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Drone Footage Shows Thousands of Nesting Sea Turtles," 15 June 2020 Its two large, glass panels—one fixed, one sliding—flood the room with sunlight, making even the smallest space feel bigger. — Neal Barrett, Popular Mechanics, "Screen Door Reborn: How to Repair a Damaged Screen Door," 31 May 2020 There's also a flash flood warning for Jefferson County until 11:15 p.m., warning small creeks and streams could flood as well as urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses and drainage and low lying areas. — Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, "National Weather Service: Flash flood watch in effect for Louisville all night," 31 July 2020 The weather service said the U.S. Virgin Islands, eastern Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola might see rivers flood, as well as urban and small streams. — NBC News, "Hurricane Isaias bears down on Puerto Rico, could hit Florida on weekend," 30 July 2020

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.