deluge

1 of 2

noun

del·​uge ˈdel-ˌyüj 

-ˌyüzh;

nonstandard

də-ˈlüj 

ˈdā-ˌlüj

1

a

: an overflowing of the land by water

b

: a drenching rain

a deluge causing mudslides in the area

2

: an overwhelming amount or number

received a deluge of angry phone calls

deluge

2 of 2

verb

deluged; deluging

transitive verb

1

: to overflow with water : inundate

2

: overwhelm, swamp

The store was deluged with complaints.

Synonyms

Noun

• alluvion
• bath
• cataclysm
• cataract
• flood
• flood tide
• inundation
• Niagara
• overflow
• spate
• torrent

Verb

• drown
• engulf
• flood
• gulf
• inundate
• overflow
• overwhelm
• submerge
• submerse
• swamp

Examples of deluge in a Sentence

Noun

The deluge caused severe mudslides.

a deluge of thanks and appreciation for the returning troops

Verb

Heavy rains deluged the region.

deluged with requests for help

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Weather alerts were spread across multiple states in the Northeast on Wednesday afternoon as an atmospheric river and bomb cyclone ushered in strong winds and a deluge of rain. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

Higher demand should, barring a deluge of excessive supply, lead to favorable prices of the commodity, benefitting companies like Coterra that produce it. —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024

Verb

Hurricanes, intensified by abnormally hot seawater, pummeled the Caribbean and the American Southeast, and floods deluged parts of Africa and Europe. —Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024

Americans are deluged with misinformation and disinformation that's coming from a variety of sources. —CBS News, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "flood, Noah's flood, storm," borrowed from Anglo-French deluvie, deluge (also continental Old French), in part loan, in part descent from Latin dīluvium "flood, inundation," from dīluere "to wash away, make thinner by mixing with water" + -ium, deverbal noun suffix — more at dilute entry 1

Verb

derivative of deluge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

deluge

1 of 2 noun

del·​uge ˈdel-yüj 

1

a

: an overflowing of the land by water : flood

b

: a drenching rain

2

: an overwhelming amount or number

a deluge of Christmas mail

deluge

2 of 2 verb

deluged; deluging

1

: to overflow with water : inundate, flood

2

: to overwhelm as if with a deluge

deluged with inquiries