flooding

flooding — noun

1. the state in which water spreads across normally dry land, often caused by heavy

1.nounB1
Definition

the state in which water spreads across normally dry land, often caused by heavy rain, rivers overflowing, or ocean storms

Example

Christopher and his neighbours spent the night filling sandbags to protect their houses from flooding.

protect [something] from flooding

Padma watched the flooding from her balcony as the river rose higher.

watch + as-clause showing simultaneous observation

Common collocations
  • severe flooding
  • widespread flooding
  • coastal flooding
  • flash flooding
  • cause flooding
  • prevent flooding
  • experience flooding
  • the risk of flooding
Synonyms
  • flood

    countable noun referring to a single event; 'flooding' describes the ongoing situation

  • inundation

    formal term, often used in official or scientific contexts

Antonyms
  • drought

    a long period with little or no rain, the opposite extreme of water shortage

Grammar Patterns

flooding + verb (singular)

adjective + flooding

flooding + of + noun

Usage Note

Flooding is an uncountable noun — do not use it with 'a' or make it plural. To refer to a single event, say 'a flood' (countable) instead.

Common Mistakes

There was a flooding in our town last year.
There was flooding in our town last year.' or 'There was a flood in our town last year.
'flooding' is uncountable; use 'a flood' for a single event.
The floodings destroyed many homes.
The flooding destroyed many homes.
'flooding' has no plural form.

Word family

  • flood
    nounB1
  • flood
    verbB1
  • flooded
    adjectiveB1
  • floodwater
    nounB2
  • floodplain
    nounC1
  • floodgate
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Flooding' and 'flood' are closely related but differ in countability and focus. 'Flooding' (uncountable) describes the ongoing condition or general phenomenon of water covering land, as in 'The flooding made roads impassable.' 'Flood' (countable) refers to a specific event: 'The 1993 flood destroyed the bridge.' 'Inundation' is a formal term used in official reports or scientific writing, often implying complete coverage: 'The inundation of the coastal plain lasted several weeks.' 'Flash flood' is a specific type of sudden, dangerous flooding caused by intense rainfall in a short period. For everyday conversation, 'flooding' and 'flood' are the most natural choices, while 'flash flood' names a particular kind of emergency.

flood ↗inundationflash flood

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • risk of flooding
  • flooding in [area]
  • caused by flooding

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Flooding' is formed from the verb 'flood' (meaning 'to overflow with water') plus the suffix '-ing', which turns the action into a noun describing the event or state. The word 'flood' comes from Old English 'flōd', related to the verb 'flōwan' ('to flow'), and can be traced back through Proto-Germanic '*flōduz' to the Indo-European root '*pleu-' meaning 'to flow.'