floodgate
noun
flood·gate
ˈfləd-ˌgāt 
1
: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice
2
: something serving to restrain an outburst
opened the floodgates of criticism
Examples of floodgate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In November of 2023 the robotic floodgates opened.
—
Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Four plays later, USF took a 24-7 lead and the floodgates opened.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Now, 20 years after its establishment, the floodgates have seemingly been lifted and resulted in a deluge of boycotts and other actions that are slowly affecting almost every sector in Israel.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
By then, the floodgates have opened and a small mass of other girls materialize.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for floodgate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Four plays later, USF took a 24-7 lead and the floodgates opened.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Now, 20 years after its establishment, the floodgates have seemingly been lifted and resulted in a deluge of boycotts and other actions that are slowly affecting almost every sector in Israel.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
By then, the floodgates have opened and a small mass of other girls materialize.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for floodgate
Cite this Entry
“Floodgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodgate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
floodgate
noun
flood·gate
ˈfləd-ˌgāt
: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share