Word
floodgate
Phoneticsflood·gate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɫədˌɡeɪt/
UK/flˈʌdɡeɪt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a large gate that controls the flow of water from a river, lake or dam. When you open it, water rushes through.
n. a movable barrier regulating water flow in a dam, lock or drainage channel, raised or lowered to release or hold back water. Often used in the plural figuratively to describe a sudden, uncontrolled release of people, requests or emotions.
Examples
“The workers close the floodgate to stop the river water.”
“After heavy rain, engineers open the floodgate to release pressure on the dam and protect nearby villages.”
“Once the court ruling was published, it opened the floodgates for hundreds of similar claims that had been waiting quietly for years.”
Examples
simple
“The workers close the floodgate to stop the river water.”
contextual
“After heavy rain, engineers open the floodgate to release pressure on the dam and protect nearby villages.”
complex
“Once the court ruling was published, it opened the floodgates for hundreds of similar claims that had been waiting quietly for years.”
Usage
Figurative use appears almost always as plural in the phrase 'open the floodgates' followed by 'to' or 'for'.
Real-World Examples
“The system of 78 floodgates, known as Mose, had a successful first outing in early October and showed its mettle again, saving Venice from a tide that officials had predicted would reach 135 cm (4.43 ft).” Etymology
From Middle English flodegate, flodgate, flodeyate, floodȝate, and flodȝete, formed as a compound of flood and gate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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