inundate

[in-uhn-deyt, -uhn-]

verb (used with object)

inundated, inundating 

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

Other Word Forms

• inundation noun
• inundator noun
• inundatory adjective
• inundant 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

Air Greenland’s customer service representatives have been so inundated with calls that executives curtailed their hours to alleviate pressure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The market has been inundated in the past decade with not only public but private biotech companies.

Read more on Barron's

Two back-to-back storms inundated large swathes of the country a week before.

Read more on BBC

One public sector organisation in south Wales has told the BBC that while they're inundated with applications for roles like in HR or communications, attracting graduates for "specialist" roles had been challenging.

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As the storm brushed past Hong Kong, steep waves crashed into land, inundating coastal areas, alongside powerful winds and rain, leaving more than 60 people injured.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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