English Reference
noun · verb

flood

n. · v.
US /ˈfɫəd/ UK /flˈʌd/ flood UK spelling floods

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a large amount of water that covers an area of land that is usually dry.

    n.an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry, often resulting from heavy rain or a burst river bank.

    Simple

    The heavy rains caused a flood that blocked the main road to the village.

    In context

    The local council implemented new drainage systems after the devastating flood of 2018 destroyed several historic properties along the riverfront.

    inundationdeluge
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a very large number of things that arrive at the same time.

    n.a large quantity of things appearing or arriving more rapidly than can be easily managed.

    Simple

    The company received a flood of complaints after the website crashed.

    In context

    The charity was overwhelmed by a flood of donations following the televised appeal for the earthquake victims.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    v.to fill or cover a place with a large amount of water.

    v.to cover or submerge a place with water; used both for natural events and domestic accidents.

    Simple

    The bathroom floor flooded because the washing machine broke.

    In context

    Rising sea levels threaten to flood low-lying coastal communities more frequently over the coming decades.

    submergeinundateswamp
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to send or give so much of something that it is hard to deal with.

    v.to provide or fill with a quantity of something that exceeds the capacity to process it.

    Simple

    Fans flooded the singer's social media page with birthday messages.

    In context

    Cheap imports began to flood the market, making it difficult for local manufacturers to compete on price.

    overwhelmsaturate
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Informal Computing

    v.to send many messages very quickly to a chat or forum to annoy people.

    v.to disrupt a communication system by sending a high volume of data or repetitive messages in a short period.

    Simple

    The moderator banned the user for flooding the chat with the same emoji.

    In context

    The server's automated security system detected an attempt to flood the comment section and temporarily disabled new posts.

    Usage

    Often used as an intransitive verb in gaming or chat contexts.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Technical

    n.the time when the ocean water moves toward the land.

    n.the incoming flow of the tide, occurring between low water and high water.

    Simple

    The boat was carried into the harbour by the flood.

    In context

    Navigating the narrow channel is significantly easier during the flood, as the current assists the vessel's progress toward the docks.

    flood tideflow
    ebb

Usage flood risks · flood waters

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated