Skip to main content
flashflood

flashflood

4.4
A sudden flood that happens very quickly after heavy rain
  • noun
  • /ˈflæʃˌflʌd/
translation icon : inundación repentina
  • Emergency services warned residents to evacuate due to the risk of a flashflood.

Examples

  • The flashflood caused significant damage to the town.

  • The heavy rains last night caused a dangerous flashflood in the mountain valley.

  • A sudden flashflood swept away several cars parked near the river.

  • Many areas were affected by the recent flashflood.

  • The heavy rain caused a flashflood that swept through the town in just a few minutes.

  • Residents were advised to evacuate as a flashflood warning was issued after the storm.

  • The flashflood made it impossible to cross the bridge safely.

Synonyms

flash flood
vsflashflood
15 3.7

A sudden rise of water that covers land after heavy rain

is the same meaning but written as one word
deluge
vsflashflood
11 6.3

A very heavy rain that causes flooding

is about sudden, short, intense flooding usually from heavy rain
waterflood
vsflashflood
6.3

A sudden large flow of water that floods land

is more specific, sudden and usually caused by heavy rain locally

How Severe

deluge
11 6.3
flashflood
4.4
flood
286 1.0
inundation
1 7.7

Surface Forms

flashflood singular
flashfloods plural

Morphology

flashflood = flash + flood (transparent) = flash + flood

Meaning is a straightforward combination of 'flash' (sudden/brief) and 'flood' (inundation), yielding 'sudden flood'.

Etymology

Flashflood comes from two simple English words, flash and flood. The flash part means 'sudden', like the quick light of a camera, and flood means 'large flow of water', so a flashflood is a very sudden, strong flood.