floodwater

noun

flood·​wa·​ter ˈfləd-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce floodwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
: the water of a flood

Examples of floodwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Climate & Environment For Subscribers How powerful land barons shaped the epic floods in California’s heartland Sept. 28, 2023 State officials pointed out that parts of Tulare Lake have sunk up to 6 feet since 2015, which has sent floodwaters into areas that emerged unscathed in previous floods. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2023 Videos posted to social media show cars partially submerged and residents wading through waist-high floodwaters. Alex Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023 The scale of the disaster was apparent even 85 miles outside Derna, the landscape marked by stagnant floodwaters and clogged fields. Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023 Derna’s disaster came when floodwaters poured down the hills surrounding the city, burst through two dams, and washed away about a quarter of the inhabited area. Sarah Dadouch, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023 In the days after a powerful storm lashed Libya’s coastline and floodwaters from two burst dams swept part of the city of Derna into the sea, authorities have understandably focused on the living, racing to find and evacuate survivors. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 But aid groups and officials have said that some 10,000 people are missing, also feared dead either beneath the wreckage of homes or lying somewhere in the floodwaters. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2023 When the floodwaters receded, the sharks remained stranded in the 51-acre body of water near the course's 14th hole. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023 Imagine how far inland floodwaters can travel if the terrain is flat compared to mountainous. WIRED, 7 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'floodwater.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of floodwater was in 1791

Dictionary Entries Near floodwater

Cite this Entry

“Floodwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodwater. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

floodwater

noun
flood·​wa·​ter ˈfləd-ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce floodwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: the water of a flood

More from Merriam-Webster on floodwater

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!