plural floods
1
: a large amount of water covering an area of land that is usually dry
A flood inundated the whole area.
the devastating flood of 1936
The water has risen to flood level.
2
: a flood described in the Bible as covering the earth in the time of Noah
3
: a large amount of things that come or happen at the same time
We've received a flood of mail.
a flood of phone calls
a flood of criticism
a flood of tears
Seeing her again brought back a flood of memories.
floods; flooded; flooding
1
a
: to cover (land) with a flood
Heavy rains flooded the valley.
The rivers are close to flooding.
b
: to become filled or covered by a flood
The valley flooded after the heavy rains.
The plain floods every spring.
2
a
: to fill (something) completely
Light flooded the room.
The room was flooded with light.
b
: to cause (something) to receive or take in a large amount of things at the same time
The company plans to flood the market with this product.
The office has been flooded with phone calls.
3
: to go or come in large numbers or as a large amount
The phone calls have been flooding in.
Refugees flooded into the camp.
Light flooded into the room.
Memories came flooding into my mind.
4
: to cause too much fuel to go into (an engine)
He wasn't able to start the car because he had flooded the engine.
The car's engine flooded.
Cite this Entry
“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/flood. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.
Copy Citation
