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

• inundator noun
• inundation noun
• inundant adjective
• inundatory 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

Doctors and pharmacists report they are being inundated with questions about the uncertainty surrounding the long-available vaccines this fall.

From Los Angeles Times

Police say they have since been inundated with reports about these and other platforms.

From BBC

Many parts of the city remain inundated in waist-deep water, with videos showing residents swimming through waterlogged roads as garbage gushed out from clogged sewers.

From BBC

My TikTok was inundated with videos of girls like me, making serious bank monetizing their arches on the World Wide Web, marketing it as an extremely lucrative side hustle.

From Salon

Krupp said the observatory was inundated with questions about how to view the Perseid meteor shower, which peaked overnight and early Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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