flash flood

noun

: a local flood of short duration generally resulting from heavy rainfall in the immediate vicinity
flash flood verb

Examples of flash flood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Exceptionally heavy rainfall, over 43 inches of it in the Big Island’s mountains, set off landslides and flash floods that wiped out roads on the island. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 Much of the state remained under a flash flood warning, though the National Hurricane Center downgraded the Big Island to a flood advisory lSunday. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026 Several inches of rain are possible, leading to a flash flood risk for anyone under a thunderstorm. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026 The catastrophic 1999 flash floods that triggered massive mudslides from the Cordillera de la Costa, the verdant mountain range that forms a scenic backdrop for the state. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flash flood

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flash flood was in 1940

Rhymes for flash flood

See All Rhymes for flash flood

Browse Nearby Words

flash factor
flash flood
flash-forward
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Cite this Entry

“Flash flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash%20flood. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flash flood

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flash flood

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