inundate

verb in·un·date \ ˈi-(ˌ)nən-ˌdāt \

Definition of inundate

inundated; inundating

transitive verb

1 :to cover with a flood :overflow

2 :overwhelm

was inundated with phone calls

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inundation

play \ˌi-(ˌ)nən-ˈdā-shən\ noun

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inundator

play \ˈi-(ˌ)nən-ˌdā-tər\ noun

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inundatory

play \i-ˈnən-də-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

See inundate defined for English-language learners

See inundate defined for kids

Examples of inundate in a Sentence

Rising rivers could inundate low-lying areas.
water from the overflowing bathtub inundated the bathroom floor

Recent Examples of inundate from the Web

City employees once again desperately tried to save the central water plant from being inundated, shoring it up with floodgates and sandbags.

— katherine arcement, Washington Post, "Houston’s besieged dams were built 70 years ago after this 1935 flood devastated the city," 30 Aug. 2017
Unprecedented flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey was inundating Houston and the surrounding area, the heart of U.S. energy production.

— Bloomberg.com, "Harvey Slams the Heart of U.S. Energy Production," 27 Aug. 2017
And the forecast for days of steady rain threatened to inundate the region's flat landscape, including Houston, with as much as 40 inches (100 centimeters).

— howard koplowitz, AL.com, "Minor earthquake recorded in northeast Alabama; 8th in region this year," 27 Aug. 2017
But since then, the rising sea has inundated 65% of the islands' ancient area.

— lizzie wade, Science | AAAS, "Most archaeologists think the first Americans arrived by boat. Now, they’re beginning to prove it," 10 Aug. 2017
Once the video went viral, Hensley’s employer was inundated with emails and phone calls.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "This Woman Was Fired From Her Job After Her Racist Rant Towards Muslims Went Viral," 28 July 2017
The Anchorage Police Department, which is 158miles from Kenai, said it was inundated with 911 calls after DeWine’s news release and asked residents to call Ohio with information.

— carrie cochran, Cincinnati.com, "Rhoden family massacre: Wagner family tries to create new home in Alaska amid rumors," 8 July 2017
Gardner is facing criticism for his decision, including from residents who inundated his office with calls.

— Washington Post, "New Hampshire secretary of state defends voter info request," 5 July 2017
Preparing food is still a pretty old-fashioned pastime, yet electronics stores can’t wait to inundate us with solar powered, USB-compatible, smartphone-accommodating doodads.

— kim komando, Fox News, "Tech Q&A: Finding veterans records," 1 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inundate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

In the summer of 1993, record rains in the Midwest caused the Mississippi River to overflow its banks, break through levees, and inundate the entire countryside; such an inundation hadn't been seen for at least a hundred years. By contrast, the Nile River inundated its entire valley every year, bringing the rich black silt that made the valley one of the most fertile places on earth. (The inundations ceased with the completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1970.) Whenever a critical issue is being debated, the White House and Congressional offices are inundated with phone calls and e-mails, just as a town may be inundated with complaints when it starts charging a fee for garbage pickup.

Origin and Etymology of inundate

Latin inundatus, past participle of inundare, from in- + unda wave — more at water

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1590

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inundate Synonyms

Synonyms

deluge, drown, engulf, gulf, flood, overflow, overwhelm, submerge, submerse, swamp

Antonyms

drain

Related Words

avalanche, smother; overcome, overrun; flow, flush, gush, pour, sluice, spout, spurt, stream; douse (also dowse), drench, soak, wet

Near Antonyms

dehydrate, dry, parch

INUNDATE Defined for English Language Learners

inundate

verb

Definition of inundate for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone or something) to receive or take in a large amount of things at the same time
: to cover (something) with a flood of water

INUNDATE Defined for Kids

inundate

verb in·un·date \ ˈin-ən-ˌdāt \

Definition of inundate for Students

inundated; inundating

:to cover with or as if with a flood

I'm inundated by mail.

Word Root of inundate

The Latin word unda, meaning “wave,” gives us the root und. Words from the Latin unda have something to do with waves. To undulate is to move up and down like a wave. To inundate is to cover with a flood of waves. To surround, or encircle on all sides, is to enclose as if by waves. To abound is to be plentiful, like waves in the ocean.