The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner

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inundate

verb

/ˈɪnʌndeɪt/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of inundate

To overwhelm someone with too many things or people to deal with, making it difficult for them to manage or cope.
"Her mind began to inundate with thoughts of her unfinished tasks."

Detailed meaning of inundate

For example, if a person is inundated with work assignments, they may feel overwhelmed and unable to complete everything in a timely manner. When used in this sense, the verb conveys a sense of being buried or buried under a heavy burden. The term can also describe a situation where someone is confronted with too many people or things to deal with, such as when a customer service representative is inundated with phone calls, or a city is inundated with tourists during peak season. The verb "inundate" implies a sense of being overwhelmed and unable to effectively manage or deal with the situation.

Example sentences containing inundate

1. The surge of emails after the holiday break tends to inundate office workers.
2. Floods of queries from curious fans often inundate rising celebrities.
3. Sales events can inundate retail staff with more customers than they can manage.
4. A flurry of last-minute assignments can inundate students at term's end.
5. Popular eateries often inundate chefs during the bustling dinner rush.
6. Breaking news can inundate newsrooms, sending reporters scrambling.

History and etymology of inundate

The verb 'inundate' has its etymological roots in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'inundare,' which is formed by combining 'in,' meaning 'into,' and 'undare,' meaning 'to surge' or 'to flood.' In its original Latin sense, 'inundare' referred to the overflowing of water, particularly during a flood. Over time, the term's meaning was extended metaphorically to describe overwhelming someone or something with a deluge of things or people, making it difficult to manage or cope. When we use the verb 'inundate' in English, we are drawing upon its historical connection to flooding and surging waters to convey the idea of being swamped or overwhelmed by an excessive amount of something, whether it be tasks, information, or people.

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Further usage examples of inundate

1. During tourist season, locals can feel inundate by the influx of visitors.
2. Unexpected challenges at work often inundate teams, testing their mettle.
3. Emergencies can inundate first responders, every second counting.
4. New product launches can inundate customer service lines with queries.
5. Surges in orders post-advertisement often inundate small businesses.
6. The sudden rain began to inundate the small town, causing panic among its residents.
7. His email inbox would inundate with marketing messages every day.
8. They had a plan to inundate the market with their innovative products.
9. The company chose to inundate its customers with special offers during the holiday season.
10. The recent flash flood continued to inundate homes in the coastal town.
11. To inundate someone with information can often overwhelm rather than inform.
12. Our strategy was to inundate the music industry with our unique sound.
13. Critics would often inundate the young artist with harsh reviews.
14. The small village was about to inundate due to the burst riverbanks.
15. Social media tends to inundate users with a constant stream of content.
16. He decided to inundate the local market with his homemade products.
17. The charity hoped to inundate their supporters with fundraising opportunities.
18. Before exams, students tend to inundate their brains with information.
19. When we opened the business, requests began to inundate our inboxes.
20. The professor would often inundate his students with complex mathematical problems.
21. When she turned the tap on, water began to inundate the sink.
22. The celebrity had to inundate the media with positive news to counteract the negative press.
23. The gardener had to inundate the dry soil with water for the flowers to grow.
24. He chose to inundate his blog with daily posts to increase reader engagement.