flood

noun \ ˈfləd \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 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

Johnson & Johnson should ready itself for a flood of new lawsuits after a jury Thursday ordered the company to pay $4.69 billion to 22 women who blamed their ovarian cancer on asbestos in its talc products, legal experts said.

— jef feeley and margaret cronin fisk, BostonGlobe.com, "Johnson & Johnson’s $4.69 billion talc verdict may open floodgates to more suits," 14 July 2018
Progressive Insurance offers the following advice for driving in a flood: Pay attention to barricades.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Safety tips for driving when roads are flooded," 8 July 2018
The twelve boys were part of a soccer team called the Wild Boars, and became trapped with their soccer coach after a flood on June 23rd.

— laura yan, Popular Mechanics, "Four Boys Have Been Rescued From Thailand Caves," 8 July 2018
The city has been through similar strains in the past, including in 2014 when a flood of unaccompanied children from Central America ended up being processed in McAllen.

— kevin sullivan, star-telegram, "In this Texas border town, immigration isn’t a problem — it’s a way of life," 7 July 2018
Louisville Courier Journal The thousands of bourbon barrels sent toppling to the ground in the collapse of the second half of a Barton 1792 distillery warehouse this week in Bardstown let loose a flood of Kentucky's signature spirit.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Barton 1792 spill filled big bourbon ponds with thousands of gallons," 6 July 2018
For example, a flood of off-lease vehicles is expected to peak next year at about 4.1 million, from 2.2 million in 2014, and automakers are no longer targeting the under-$20,000 vehicle segment, meaning new vehicles have been getting pricier.

— eric d. lawrence, Philly.com, "In the market for a used car? Tariff talks might benefit you," 5 July 2018
Then 12 minutes into Lowe’s set, rain swept over the grounds, and a flood of people ran down the steps seeking shelter under the pavilion’s roof.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Best and worst of Summerfest Day 5: Greta Van Fleet, Chromeo, Rick Springfield and more," 1 July 2018
Damage to the historic district’s infrastructure is estimated at $20.8 million, nearly double the damage caused in a 2016 flood.

— kate magill, Howard County Times, "Officials say Ellicott City must adapt to survive future floods," 29 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

When the economy was struggling, employers became accustomed to inboxes flooded with résumés and snaking lines of eager applicants.

— patricia cohen, BostonGlobe.com, "Paychecks lag as profits soar, and prices erode wage gains," 14 July 2018
More than 700 houses were destroyed or damaged, and more than 23,000 were flooded, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

— Fox News, "Thousands still in shelters after deadly flooding in Japan," 13 July 2018
When the economy was struggling, employers became accustomed to inboxes flooded with résumés and snaking lines of eager applicants.

— patricia cohen, New York Times, "Paychecks Lag as Profits Soar, and Prices Erode Wage Gains," 13 July 2018
Lane did some impromptu diving on one of his most famous rescues, a 1992 operation at Nickajack Cave, which was flooded when the TVA closed the Nickajack Dam in 1967.

— bo emerson, ajc, "Cave rescuers in Southeast watch their Thai colleagues with admiration," 10 July 2018
Almost 1 million soccer fans traveled to Russia to see the games play out in 11 cities across the country, and social media has been flooded with scenes of massive street parties in Moscow and beyond.

— sabra ayres, latimes.com, "World Cup gives Russia a global makeover, but how long will that last?," 10 July 2018
While the studio was flooded with thank you notes and letters from fans who had been inspired by the episode, many of the actors involved in the episode received death threats and were snubbed by Hollywood.

— sarah midkiff, refinery29.com, "Ellen DeGeneres Opened Up To Jerry Seinfeld About The Harsh Reality Of Being Gay On TV," 8 July 2018
Shortly after posting the photo, the couple's fans promptly freaked the hell out and flooded the comments section with questions about the ring.

— ruby buddemeyer, Marie Claire, "Are Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Engaged? Here Are All the Clues," 6 July 2018
Lederman’s courtroom flooded with reporters from across the country.

— adiel kaplan, miamiherald, "She struck down gay adoption ban and handled notorious juvenile cases. Now she's retiring.," 3 July 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