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
flooded; flooding; floods
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
flooder
noun
Examples of flood in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
The tsunami wave from an anticipated earthquake off the West Coast reach 100 feet and permanently flood parts of the coast.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Mallory Nicholls, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Severe storms with large hail, damaging wind gusts, flooding downpours and a few tornados will complicate Memorial Day travel in parts of the Southern Plains, Mid-South and Tennessee Valley, a National Weather Service (NWS) forecast said.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flood
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.
Noun
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth issued a flood warning in several North Texas counties, including Tarrant County, beginning Monday evening through Tuesday morning, when 1 to 3 inches of rain is forecast.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
The tsunami wave from an anticipated earthquake off the West Coast reach 100 feet and permanently flood parts of the coast.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Verb
When a storm is approaching, most evacuation orders are issued for areas where storm surge is a threat or for those near a body of water that is prone to flooding.
—Mallory Nicholls, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Severe storms with large hail, damaging wind gusts, flooding downpours and a few tornados will complicate Memorial Day travel in parts of the Southern Plains, Mid-South and Tennessee Valley, a National Weather Service (NWS) forecast said.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flood
Cite this Entry
“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flood. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flood
1 of 2 noun1
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 verb1
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share