inundate

[ in-uhn-deyt, -uhn- ]

verb (used with object)

, in·un·dat·ed, in·un·dat·ing.

1. to flood; cover or overspread with water; deluge.
2. to overwhelm:

   inundated with letters of protest.

   Synonyms: glut

inundate

/ ˈɪnʌnˌdeɪt /

verb

1. to cover completely with water; overflow; flood; swamp
2. to overwhelm, as if with a flood

   to be inundated with requests

Derived Forms

• ˌinunˈdation, noun
• ˈinunˌdator, noun
• ˈinundant, adjective

Other Words From

• in·un·da·tion [in-, uh, n-, dey, -sh, uh, n, -uhn-] noun
• in·un·da·tor noun
• in·un·da·to·ry [in-, uhn, -d, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inundate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin inundātus, past participle of inundāre “to flood, overflow,” equivalent to in- in- ² + und(a) “wave” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inundate¹

C17: from Latin inundāre to flood, from unda wave

Synonym Study

See flood.

Example Sentences

Incoming queries from the FBI, Epik and journalists writing about TheDonald’s role in the Capitol attack inundated Williams, for whom moderating the site already had become something of a full-time job.

From Washington Post

In the Northwest, dam building during the New Deal inundated the homes, fishing sites and lands of many Indigenous peoples, including the Spokane, Wasco and Colville Nations.

From Washington Post

Often, it leads to restaurants, some of which never offered delivery in the first place, being inundated with unexpected orders that might be based on outdated menus, and customers complaining when their orders are canceled.

From Eater

It’s one thing to address, and another thing to inundate students with this.

From Fortune

Most people on our team are inundated with requests from other teams or other people.

From MIT Technology Review

Now it has a different meaning: to inundate someone with profanity and insults.

From The Daily Beast

“Flaming” was one of the first, meaning to inundate someone with email spam.

From The Daily Beast

Without sea-level rise, a 100-year flood would inundate portions of the subway system, the report found.

From The Daily Beast

It is enough that the sea rises or falls by a foot, to inundate vast shores, or to restore them to cultivation and plenty.'

From Project Gutenberg

Did a flood of emigration inundate the frontier with an amount of consumers disproportioned to the supply of grain?

From Project Gutenberg

Her pure serenity revolted against the currents of life sweeping down upon her, threatening to inundate her.

From Project Gutenberg

They were going to inundate the country, they were going to be a very serious proposition indeed.

From Project Gutenberg

It is subject to violent floods, which inundate the surrounding country for a distance of 10 to 20 m.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deluge
• engulf
• flood
• overflow
• overrun
• submerge
• swamp