# avalanche

/ˈævəˌɫæntʃ/ (US) · /ˈævəlˌɑːnʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/avalanche
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. snow or rock slide

noun · CEFR B2

a large mass of snow, ice, or rocks that falls quickly down the side of a mountain.

For teachers: a rapid descent of a large mass of snow, ice, soil, or rock down a mountainside or slope.

- The hikers were warned to stay off the peak because of the risk of an avalanche.
- Rescue teams were deployed immediately after the avalanche buried the mountain pass, though heavy snowfall hampered their initial search efforts.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the material, such as 'an avalanche of mud'.

### 2. overwhelming amount

noun · CEFR B2

a very large amount of something that arrives suddenly and is difficult to handle.

For teachers: a sudden and overwhelming influx or quantity of something, typically abstract or communicative.

- The company received an avalanche of complaints after the website stopped working.
- Following the controversial announcement, the press office had to manage an avalanche of enquiries from international media outlets.

Usage: Commonly used in the pattern 'an avalanche of [plural noun]'.

### 3. to fall or overwhelm

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to fall down like a mountain slide, or to overwhelm someone with too much of something.

For teachers: to descend in the manner of an avalanche or to overwhelm a subject with a sudden, massive quantity.

- The rocks started to avalanche down the cliff after the heavy rain.
- The sheer volume of data threatened to avalanche the research team, forcing them to adopt more automated filtering methods.

Usage: Can be used intransitively for physical movement or transitively when describing the act of overwhelming someone.

## Examples

- The avalanche buried the small village in snow.
- A sudden avalanche swept down the slope, forcing the hikers to seek shelter in a cave.
- The resignation of the CEO triggered an avalanche of media speculation and stock market volatility that lasted for weeks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.