it was flooded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was flooded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a place that has recently been affected by a flood. For example, "After the storm, the street was flooded. Luckily, no one was hurt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The board acknowledged in its decision that it was flooded with "over a hundred letters from generations of patients and parents" in support of Fleiss.

Los Angeles Times

Staff at the Harbour Inn on the north bank of the River Blyth moved its contents out before it was flooded by about 5ft (1.5m) of water.

BBC

(Why the library? Because it was warm, it was flooded with natural light and its director gave me permission).

The New York Times

(Why the library? Because it was warm, it was flooded with natural light and its director gave me permission). Clipboard in hand, we conducted the test again.

The New York Times - Tech

Motiva, the nation's largest refinery, has also closed its 603,000-barrel-a-day operation in Port Arthur after it was flooded by Hurricane Harvey.

Vice

It was flooded by it.

The Guardian - Music

They just didn't say it was flooded with concrete.

Independent

Then it was flooded to create the lake and hydroelectric basin that exists today.

Independent

When he got off the water at 2 p.m., it was flooded with messages.

The Washington Post

The United States says it was flooded with steel imports in 1998 and 1999.

The New York Times

Censors completely blocked the photo-sharing service Instagram after it was flooded with pictures of unrest.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was flooded", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. For example, specify "the basement" or "the street" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming the cause of the flooding. Instead of saying "it was flooded because of the rain" without verification, specify the actual cause if known, such as "it was flooded due to a burst pipe".

Linguistic Context

Function: The phrase "it was flooded" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something (the subject) underwent the action of being flooded. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in describing past events where a location or object experienced flooding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was flooded" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a past event where something was inundated with water or metaphorically overwhelmed. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media, to report on incidents involving flooding. While the register is generally neutral to informal, precision and clarity are important when specifying what "it" refers to and the cause of the flooding. Alternative phrases like "it was inundated" or "it was submerged" can be used for variety, but ensure they fit the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was inundated

Focuses on the overwhelming nature of the flooding, similar to "it was flooded" but emphasizes the sheer volume of water.

it was submerged

Highlights the complete covering of something by water, very similar to "it was flooded" in many contexts.

it was deluged

Emphasizes a sudden and heavy flooding, conveying a sense of being overwhelmed quickly.

it was swamped

Implies being overwhelmed not just by water but also by other things, such as requests or inquiries.

it was overflowing

Suggests that something was filled to the point of spilling over, closely related to flooding but not always involving water.

it was immersed

Focuses on being completely covered or involved, not necessarily by water but can be used metaphorically.

it was saturated

Highlights the state of being completely soaked or filled, implying a thorough penetration of liquid.

it was overcome

Suggests being defeated or overwhelmed by something, not specifically water but can be used in a similar context.

it was congested

Describes a state of being blocked or overcrowded, different from flooding but shares the sense of being overwhelmed.

it was overstretched

Implies resources or capabilities being strained beyond their limit, sharing a sense of being overwhelmed.

FAQs

What does "it was flooded" mean?

The phrase "it was flooded" means that a particular place or thing was covered or filled with water, often unexpectedly and in large quantities. The degree of flooding can vary from minor inundation to being completely submerged.

What can I say instead of "it was flooded"?

You can use alternatives like "it was inundated", "it was submerged", or "it was deluged" depending on the specific context.

How is "it was flooded" different from "it is flooded"?

"It was flooded" indicates that the flooding occurred in the past and is now over (although the consequences may still be present), while "it is flooded" indicates that the flooding is currently happening.

Is "it was flooded by" the same as "it was flooded with"?

While similar, "it was flooded by" typically refers to a natural event or external force (e.g., "it was flooded by the river"), whereas "it was flooded with" can refer to an abundance of something, not just water (e.g., "it was flooded with requests").