floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
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
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.
Since then, however, the floodgates have opened and many Big Brother alums have tried their hand at the globe-trotting CBS series over the years, with two BB couples (Cody Nickson and Jessica Graf as well as Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss) winning the show. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025 After that, the floodgates opened. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for floodgate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flodgate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of floodgate was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Floodgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodgate. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice

Legal Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate
: something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation)
usually used in pl.
a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims

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