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
flooded; flooding; floods
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
flooder
noun
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
Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 July 2025
The Baltimore area is under a flood watch, as thunderstorms and damaging winds are possible Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2025
William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Thousands of comments flooded the platform owned by Trump.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flood
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Currently, the death toll from the July 4 floods has reached at least 132 people, with over 160 people listed as missing.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 July 2025
The Baltimore area is under a flood watch, as thunderstorms and damaging winds are possible Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2025
Verb
Previous storms have flooded Mason’s building, damaging appliances and furniture, but this time she was mostly spared.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Thousands of comments flooded the platform owned by Trump.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flood
Cite this Entry
“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flood. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flood
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a great flow of water that rises and spreads over the land
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
a flood of mail
flood
2 of 2 verb1
: to cover or become filled with a flood
2
: to fill as if with a flood
a room flooded with light
flood a carburetor
3
: to pour forth, go, or come in a flood
Medical Definition
flood
intransitive verb
: to have an excessive menstrual flow or a uterine hemorrhage after childbirth
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