were flooding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were flooding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is being overwhelmed or inundated, often with water or a large number of people or things. Example: "The streets were flooding after the heavy rain, causing traffic delays throughout the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People were flooding in.

The New York Times

His sinuses were flooding.

The New Yorker

Rats, not water, were flooding the city this time.

The New York Times

Student voters were flooding Twitter with messages of mass support.

The Guardian

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators were flooding the streets.

The New Yorker

Casualties from both sides were flooding into Deynile's main hospital.

The New York Times

Within a year paperbacks from several publishers were flooding the market.

The New York Times - Tech

Soon enough, qualified coaches were flooding the Icelandic club and academy system.

The Guardian - Sport

"Sometimes our offense really was stagnant, and people really were flooding the strong side," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

At times, members were flooding the comments of the Facebook page.

The Guardian - Tech

Today, three days after Christmas, Germans were flooding their main shopping districts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were flooding" to vividly depict situations where something is entering or appearing in large quantities and overwhelming a space or system. This phrase is particularly effective in news reporting and descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was flooding" when referring to a plural subject. Ensure the verb tense aligns with the intended meaning. For instance, "The streets were flooding" is correct, while "The streets was flooding" is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were flooding" functions as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action in the past. It describes a state of inundation or a large influx of something, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were flooding" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that vividly describes situations of inundation or large influxes. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. It is particularly common in news reporting and descriptive writing, conveying a sense of being overwhelmed or inundated, and while other options like "were inundating" or "were overflowing" exist, the choice depends on nuanced contextual differences. When using the phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement and appropriate tense usage to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were inundating

Replaces "flooding" with a synonym emphasizing overwhelming or covering completely.

were inundating

Replaces "flooding" with a synonym emphasizing overwhelming or covering completely.

were swarming

Suggests a large group moving quickly and densely, similar to a swarm.

were overflowing

Emphasizes exceeding capacity, indicating a spillover effect.

were pouring in

Focuses on the continuous influx of something, like a liquid being poured.

were streaming in

Implies a steady and continuous flow, like a stream of water.

were surging

Suggests a sudden and powerful increase or rush.

were deluging

Replaces "flooding" with a synonym emphasizing a heavy downpour or overwhelming amount.

were thronging

Indicates a large crowd gathering closely together.

were flocking

Suggests gathering in large numbers, often with a sense of purpose or destination.

FAQs

How can I use "were flooding" in a sentence?

You can use "were flooding" to describe a situation where something is entering or appearing in large quantities. For example, "The streets "were flooding" after the heavy rain" or "Customers "were flooding" the store during the sale".

What are some alternatives to "were flooding"?

Some alternatives to "were flooding" include "were inundating", "were swarming", or "were overflowing", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was flooding" instead of "were flooding"?

"Was flooding" is used with singular subjects, while "were flooding" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The river was flooding" (singular) versus "The rivers "were flooding"" (plural).

What is the difference between "were flooding" and "had been flooding"?

"Were flooding" indicates an ongoing action in the past, while "had been flooding" indicates an action that continued for some time before another action in the past. For example, "The streets "were flooding" when we arrived" versus "The streets had been flooding for hours before we arrived".