What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
flood
Example
The river flooded the nearby town after heavy rain. [flood: verb]
Example
The flood of emails in my inbox is overwhelming. [flood: noun]
Example
There was a flood of customers at the store during the sale. [flood: noun]
spate
Example
The spate of rain caused the river to overflow. [spate: noun]
Example
There has been a spate of burglaries in the neighborhood. [spate: noun]
Example
She had a spate of anger after hearing the news. [spate: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Flood is more commonly used than spate in everyday language, especially when referring to natural disasters.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between flood and spate?
Both flood and spate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but flood is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations.
