inundate
/ˈɪn.ʌn.deɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To flood a place with water, or to cover it completely with a large amount of water. This is often used in formal writing.
- The river inundated nearby fields.
- Heavy rain inundated the streets.
- 2.
To give someone too many things to deal with at once. It often suggests pressure and overload.
- My inbox was inundated with messages.
- We were inundated with customer complaints.
Adinary Nuance
Inundate is stronger and more formal than words like "flood" or "swamp." Use "flood" for water or a large amount of something in everyday speech. Use "inundate" when you want a written, serious tone, especially in news, reports, or business writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ngập tràn
- Spanish
- inundar
- Chinese
- 淹没
- Japanese
- 浸水させる
- Korean
- 범람시키다
Etymology
Inundate comes from Latin inundare, meaning "to flood." It entered English in the late 1500s, first with the water meaning.
Common phrases
inundated with emailsinundated by requestsbe inundated with workinundated after the storm
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is inundate formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. People often use it in writing, news reports, and business English.
- What is the difference between inundate and flood?
- Flood is more common and can sound more natural in everyday speech. Inundate sounds more formal and often means "overwhelm with too much."
- Can I say I was inundated with work?
- Yes. This is a common and natural use when you mean you had far too much work.
- Is inundate used with water only?
- No. It can also describe being overwhelmed by messages, requests, or problems.