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

Days of heavy rain across Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand have inundated cities, trapped thousands and caused deadly landslides.

Read more on Barron's

Heavy rains across Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand have inundated cities, trapped thousands and caused deadly landslides.

Read more on Barron's

A volunteer rescue group, the Matchima Rescue Center, told Reuters it had been inundated with thousands of calls in the last three days, with people asking to be evacuated.

Read more on BBC

Guests who had lived in Sonder properties for months or even years inundated front-desk workers with questions, even approaching police about eviction laws.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Whole city blocks were inundated last week in coastal Nha Trang, while deadly landslides struck highland passes around the Da Lat tourist hub.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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