flooding

American  

[fluhd-ing] / ˈflʌd ɪŋ /

noun

1. a form of psychotherapy in which the patient receives abrupt and intense, rather than gradual, exposure to a fear-producing situation.

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flooding British  

/ ˈflʌdɪŋ /

noun

1. the submerging of land under water, esp due to heavy rain, a lake or river overflowing, etc

2. pathol excessive bleeding from the uterus, as following childbirth

3. psychol a method of eliminating anxiety in a given situation, by exposing a person to the situation until the anxiety subsides

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Etymology

Origin of flooding

1665–75, for sense “flood”; see flood + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

A neighbourhood resident, 54-year-old traffic clerk Mihaela Blanaru, told AFP she heard a phone alert warning her about the danger, and then was surprised by the light flooding her bedroom and the noise.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

For years, the world has worried about China flooding global markets with electric vehicles, solar panels, batteries, steel and consumer electronics.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

But Iranian money soon came flooding back, according to Binance compliance reports and people familiar with the activity.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

From several centimeters to several meters, this flooding is generally characterized by several waves, and the first waves are not necessarily the largest.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

There was coastal flooding, which meant that the low lying highways and many side roads and ramps would be closed.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

Related Words

• inundation