Word
deluge
Phoneticsdel·uge, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɛɫjudʒ/
UK/dˈɛljuːdʒ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very heavy rain or a sudden flood. It can also mean a huge amount of things that arrive all at once, like emails or questions.
n. a severe flood or a heavy downpour of rain; metaphorically, an overwhelming amount or number of something. Often used with 'of' to describe a sudden influx of information or requests.
Examples
“The office received a deluge of complaints after the power cut.”
“The sudden deluge turned the quiet village streets into rushing rivers within minutes.”
“Following the announcement of the new policy, the customer service department struggled to manage the deluge of inquiries that flooded their phone lines and email inboxes.”
Examples
simple
“The office received a deluge of complaints after the power cut.”
contextual
“The sudden deluge turned the quiet village streets into rushing rivers within minutes.”
complex
“Following the announcement of the new policy, the customer service department struggled to manage the deluge of inquiries that flooded their phone lines and email inboxes.”
Usage
Often appears in the singular form when used metaphorically ('a deluge of').
Real-World Examples
“The named storm Lala has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it prepares to bear down on the Big Island of Hawaii with a deluge of heavy rain.” “The deluge comes after a series of storms swept through Japan and neighbouring countries this week, in what meteorologists forecast to be an unusually active typhoon season.” Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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