floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
1
: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice
2
: something serving to restrain an outburst
opened the floodgates of criticism

Examples of floodgate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then, the floodgates opened, from leads in Warrior (2011) and Locke (2013) to supporting parts in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and Lawless (2012). Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2025 Then the floodgates opened and the points really started to come in the second half, climbing to a point per game as one of the Colts’ top offensive players by season’s end. Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025 And as far as the crazy-complete 28-disc box devoted to Dylan and the Band’s 1974 tour, only a portion of which was heard on the original Before the Flood, well, open those floodgates. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025 So to shoot 60 felt like the floodgates kind of opened up for us. Marcus Thompson Ii, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for floodgate 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flodgate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of floodgate was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near floodgate

Cite this Entry

“Floodgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodgate. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice

Legal Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate
: something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation)
usually used in pl.
a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims

More from Merriam-Webster on floodgate

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