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 On that Monday in January, staff in schools from Coronado to Spring Valley became first responders, moving quickly to rescue students from fast-rising floodwaters by evacuating them to high ground. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024 Investigators believe the spill into the creek arose from the burst pipe floodwaters contacting the floor materials and exterior of the containers before flowing through storm drains into the nearby creek. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 13 Feb. 2024 Among them are the University of California, Santa Barbara, which serves a community expected to be hit hard by rain, wind and floodwaters. NBC News, 6 Feb. 2024 During heavy rainfall events, floodwater can enter LUSTs, pushing the fuel out. Patrick Ceres, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2024 Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters. Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 The Spring Valley Community Alliance, working alongside local churches and other organizations, is spearheading the donation drive to help the many people whose belongings and homes were either severely damaged or destroyed by more than two feet of floodwater. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 California is reeling under the impact of a historic storm that has slammed into the western coast and unleashed floodwaters, isolated tornadoes and mudslides. Leo sands, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2024 In Baja California, one man drowned in Santa Rosalía after his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters, and a 32-year-old woman was found dead after her vehicle was swept away by an overflowing stream near Cataviña. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024

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 28 Mar. 2024.

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
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