flood

1 of 2

noun

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
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
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

flood

2 of 2

verb

flooded; flooding; floods

transitive verb

1
: to cover with a flood : inundate
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

intransitive verb

1
: to pour forth, go, or come in a flood
2
: to become filled with a flood
flooder noun

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In fact, the potential for another atmospheric river storm to develop later in March has raised the spectre of flood risk should a warm rain-on-snow event occur, said Sean De Guzman, manager of snow surveys with the DWR. Hayley Smithstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2023 The organization has previously conducted a similar analysis of changing flood risk in the U.S. in the coming decades, but those models included other rainfall events and riverine flooding, in addition to hurricanes. Denise Chow, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2023 The snow is a boon for the state’s water supply but could also pose a flood risk as the season progresses. Diana Leonard, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Feb. 2023 Melting mountain glaciers pose a growing flood risk to some 15 million people around the world, researchers said in a report published on Tuesday, with communities in Asia facing the biggest danger. Fox News, 7 Feb. 2023 Thankfully, these rainfall totals will be scattered out over the course of three days, keeping flood risks low. Gerry Díaz, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2023 The limitations mean flood risk is underestimated nationally. Time, 21 Jan. 2023 The limitations mean flood risk is underestimated nationally. Michael Phillis, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Jan. 2023 The limitations mean flood risk is underestimated nationally. Michael Phillis, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2023
Verb
Then, a full six weeks after that season, Arizona fired coach Sean Miller, the sort of move that can normally flood the transfer portal with players. Bruce Pascoe, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2023 The tobacco industry’s take on harm reduction includes mass marketing nicotine-laden vaping products that flood retail outlets while furiously lobbying against the regulation of traditional cigarettes. Howard K. Koh And Michael Fiore, STAT, 21 Feb. 2023 Thousands of wrestling fans will flood Texas this weekend as WWE is almost back on the road to WrestleMania with the Royal Rumble slated for Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Dallas News, 26 Jan. 2023 The regime appears to have capitalized on the executions, using them as a deterrent to people eager to speak out and flood the streets, as was seen after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini in the custody of the nation’s morality police. Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN, 11 Jan. 2023 Forecasters no longer project that the river in Guerneville will flood Friday, as it is now expected to peak in the morning at 26.2 feet, below the flood stage level of 32 feet. oregonlive, 5 Jan. 2023 And that’s on a normal day; when a natural disaster such as a hurricane hits, these lagoons can flood and their septic waste can reach even farther, endangering the health of even more people. Brian Kateman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022 Too much rainfall will flood the draw and affect their ability to hunt for snacks like bugs and small mammals. Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec. 2022 Next year, as drought is projected to intensify and the nearby bird sanctuary plans to flood more ponds than in years past, the mosquito problem stands to intensify. Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Nov. 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English flōd; akin to Old High German fluot flood, Old English flōwan to flow

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1663, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flood was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near flood

Cite this Entry

“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flood. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

flood

1 of 2 noun
1
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 verb
1
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on flood

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!


Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. 2

  • a pencil broken in half on top of a test answer sheet
  • The business’s new computer system proved not to be a panacea.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY