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
Flood
: 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
flood the fields
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
1
: to pour forth, go, or come in a flood
letters flooding in
2
: to become filled with a flood
The basement flooded.
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
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2026
It is used to justify regulations, such as auto emissions standards, intended to protect against threats made increasingly severe by climate change — deadly floods, extreme heat waves, catastrophic wildfires and other natural disasters in the United States and around the world.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026
Khanna said his office had been flooded with calls and emails as the mixed messaging left many local residents fearful.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flood
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.
Noun
Together, they are tasked with monitoring our planet's forests, agriculture, land use, coastal waters and more, while also mapping disaster areas to aid emergency services during major flood, forest fire and earthquake events.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2026
It is used to justify regulations, such as auto emissions standards, intended to protect against threats made increasingly severe by climate change — deadly floods, extreme heat waves, catastrophic wildfires and other natural disasters in the United States and around the world.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
The storm that destroyed the home of Shaun and Karen Powers hit three months after the phone call that put an end to Coppermark’s strategy of flooding the insurance department with complaints.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026
Khanna said his office had been flooded with calls and emails as the mixed messaging left many local residents fearful.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flood
Cite this Entry
“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flood. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
