Spate: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when talking about a sudden and large number of events or things, usually negative.

• There was a spate of burglaries in the neighborhood last month.
• Recently, we've experienced a spate of bad weather.

Used for literal or figurative overwhelming amounts of water or things. It can describe both natural disasters and large amounts of information or emotions.

• After the hurricane, the flood waters covered the entire area.
• She received a flood of emails after the announcement.

Used to describe a large, overwhelming amount of things or an actual, heavy downpour of rain.

• The company was hit by a deluge of complaints after the new product was launched.
• The town was deluged with rain, causing heavy flooding.

Primarily used in formal contexts to describe an overwhelming abundance of things, often in a figurative sense.

• The city faced an inundation of tourists during the festival season.
• The manager was not prepared for the inundation of paperwork that came with the new position.

Describes a frequent or large number of events happening one after the other within a short time. Can often imply something negative, like accidents or problems.

• There has been a spate of vandalism in the area.

Used for a sudden release of strong emotion, often anger or frustration. Typically describes an emotional reaction that is intense and might be unexpected.

• She had an outburst of anger when she found out about the mistake.
• His sudden outburst surprised everyone at the meeting.

Refers to a sudden and powerful forward or upward movement. Often used to describe a rapid increase in number or intensity, such as waves, crowds, emotions, or data.

• There was a surge in electricity demand during the heatwave.
• The crowd surged forward when the gates opened.

Describes a situation where people or things are moving quickly, or when there is a high demand for something within a short period. Can also refer to a hurried act.

• There was a rush to buy tickets for the concert when they went on sale.
• He completed his homework in a rush because he was running late.