inundate
|in-un-date|
C1
/ˈɪn.ʌn.deɪt/
overwhelm with excess
Etymology
Etymology Information
'inundate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inundare,' where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'unda' meant 'wave.'
Historical Evolution
'inundare' transformed into the French word 'inonder,' and eventually became the modern English word 'inundate' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to flood with water,' but over time it evolved to also mean 'to overwhelm with a large amount of something.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to flood or cover with water.
The river overflowed and inundated the fields.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 2
to overwhelm someone with things or people to be dealt with.
The office was inundated with calls after the advertisement aired.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35