Drought vs. Flood — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall leading to a shortage of water, while a flood is an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits.
Difference Between Drought and Flood
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Drought is characterized by a prolonged absence or marked deficiency of rainfall in a region, leading to water scarcity. Conversely, a Flood happens when an excessive volume of water overflows and inundates land that is usually dry.
Drought conditions can be caused by various factors, including high temperatures, excessive evaporation, and lack of precipitation. On the other hand, Floods can be the result of heavy rainfall, snowmelt, storm surges, or the bursting of dams.
Drought often leads to adverse effects on agriculture, as crops fail due to the lack of water. Water supplies for humans and animals can also become scarce. In contrast, Floods can lead to the destruction of infrastructure, loss of life, and displacement of populations.
Droughts tend to develop slowly over time, often making them harder to predict or recognize immediately. Floods, while sometimes predicted, can also occur suddenly, resulting in flash floods.
Both Drought and Flood can have significant ecological impacts. While drought can result in the loss of plant and animal life due to water shortage, floods can lead to the relocation or drowning of species, along with soil erosion.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A prolonged period of low rainfall
Overflow of water beyond normal limits
Causes
High temperatures, lack of precipitation
Heavy rain, snowmelt, storm surges
Effects
Crop failure, water scarcity
Infrastructure damage, displacement
Onset
Develops slowly
Can occur suddenly
Ecological Impact
Loss of life due to lack of water
Soil erosion, relocation of species
Compare with Definitions
Drought
A severe shortage of water.
The city implemented water restrictions due to the drought.
Flood
An overflow of water onto normally dry land.
The heavy rains caused a flood in the valley.
Drought
A prolonged dry spell.
Trees began to wither in the drought.
Flood
A large amount or number.
A flood of memories came rushing back.
Drought
A drought is an event of prolonged shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric (below-average precipitation), surface water or ground water. A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days.
Flood
The inundation of an area with water.
Houses were submerged during the flood.
Drought
An extended deficiency of rainfall.
The drought caused several rivers to dry up.
Flood
A rising body of water.
The townspeople prepared for the coming flood.
Drought
A scarcity or lack of something.
There was a drought of good movies that summer.
Flood
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide.
Drought
A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water
The cause of Europe's recent droughts
Crops have failed because of drought
Flood
An overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally dry land
A flood barrier
The villagers had been cut off by floods and landslides
Drought
Thirst
I asked for something to slake my drought
Flood
An outpouring of tears
She burst into floods of tears
Drought
A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that adversely affects growing or living conditions.
Flood
Short for floodlight
Drought
A prolonged dearth or shortage.
Flood
Cover or submerge (an area) with water in a flood
The dam burst, flooding a small town
Drought
A period of unusually low rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell.
Flood
Arrive in overwhelming amounts or quantities
Sunlight flooded in at the windows
Congratulatory messages flooded in
His old fears came flooding back
Drought
A longer than expected term without success, particularly in sport.
Winning streak
Flood
(of a woman) experience a uterine haemorrhage.
Drought
(archaic) dryness, aridness, dry heat
Flood
An overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry.
Drought
Dryness; want of rain or of water; especially, such dryness of the weather as affects the earth, and prevents the growth of plants; aridity.
The drought of March hath pierced to the root.
In a drought the thirsty creatures cry.
Flood
A flood tide.
Drought
Thirst; want of drink.
Flood
A large amount or number, especially when moving from one place to another
Received a flood of applications.
Drought
Scarcity; lack.
A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history.
Flood
A floodlight, specifically a unit that produces a beam of intense light.
Drought
A temporary shortage of rainfall
Flood
Flood In the Bible, the covering of the earth with water that occurred during the time of Noah.
Drought
A prolonged shortage
Flood
To cover or submerge with water; inundate
The town was flooded when the dam burst.
Drought
A long period without rain.
Farmers struggled as the drought continued for months.
Flood
To move into or fill in large numbers or amounts
People flooded the square. His inbox was flooded with mail.
Flood
To overwhelm in large numbers
The theater was flooded with ticket requests.
Flood
To put too much fuel into the carburetor of (an engine), resulting in unsuccessful ignition.
Flood
To become inundated or submerged
The underpass floods after a heavy rain.
Flood
To pour forth; overflow
The river floods nearly every spring.
Flood
An overflow (usually disastrous) of water from a lake or other body of water due to excessive rainfall or other input of water.
Flood
(figuratively) A large number or quantity of anything appearing more rapidly than can easily be dealt with.
A flood of complaints
Flood
The flowing in of the tide, opposed to the ebb.
Flood
A floodlight.
Flood
Menstrual discharge; menses.
Flood
(obsolete) Water as opposed to land.
Flood
To overflow, as by water from excessive rainfall.
Flood
To cover or partly fill as if by a flood.
The floor was flooded with beer.
They flooded the room with sewage.
Flood
(figuratively) To provide (someone or something) with a larger number or quantity of something than can easily be dealt with.
The station's switchboard was flooded with listeners making complaints.
Flood
To paste numerous lines of text to (a chat system) in order to disrupt the conversation.
Flood
To bleed profusely, as after childbirth.
Flood
A great flow of water; a body of moving water; the flowing stream, as of a river; especially, a body of water, rising, swelling, and overflowing land not usually thus covered; a deluge; a freshet; an inundation.
A covenant never to destroyThe earth again by flood.
Flood
The flowing in of the tide; the semidiurnal swell or rise of water in the ocean; - opposed to ebb; as, young flood; high flood.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
Flood
A great flow or stream of any fluid substance; as, a flood of light; a flood of lava; hence, a great quantity widely diffused; an overflowing; a superabundance; as, a flood of bank notes; a flood of paper currency.
Flood
Menstrual disharge; menses.
Flood
To overflow; to inundate; to deluge; as, the swollen river flooded the valley.
Flood
To cause or permit to be inundated; to fill or cover with water or other fluid; as, to flood arable land for irrigation; to fill to excess or to its full capacity; as, to flood a country with a depreciated currency.
Flood
The rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land;
Plains fertilized by annual inundations
Flood
An overwhelming number or amount;
A flood of requests
A torrent of abuse
Flood
Light that is a source of artificial illumination having a broad beam; used in photography
Flood
A large flow
Flood
The act of flooding; filling to overflowing
Flood
The inward flow of the tide;
A tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune
Flood
Fill quickly beyond capacity; as with a liquid;
The basement was inundated after the storm
The images flooded his mind
Flood
Cover with liquid, usually water;
The swollen river flooded the village
The broken vein had flooded blood in her eyes
Flood
Supply with an excess of;
Flood the market with tennis shoes
Glut the country with cheap imports from the Orient
Flood
Become filled to overflowing;
Our basement flooded during the heavy rains
Flood
To become filled to overflowing.
The streets flood every time it rains heavily.
Common Curiosities
Which phenomenon can damage crops due to lack of water?
Drought.
What causes a flood?
Factors like heavy rainfall, snowmelt, and storm surges can cause floods.
Are floods always slow-building events?
No, some floods, like flash floods, can occur very suddenly.
Can droughts affect water supplies?
Yes, droughts can lead to significant water shortages.
What might a sudden flood result from?
Bursting of dams or heavy downpours can result in sudden floods.
What can excessive rain lead to?
It can lead to floods.
Can a drought have ecological consequences?
Yes, prolonged droughts can lead to the loss of plant and animal life.
Can a drought affect groundwater levels?
Yes, drought conditions can lower groundwater levels.
What primarily characterizes a drought?
A prolonged period of insufficient rainfall.
How do people typically respond to prolonged droughts?
They might implement water conservation measures or seek alternative water sources.
What areas are most susceptible to floods?
Low-lying areas and regions near water bodies are more prone to flooding.
Are droughts only about the absence of rain?
While lack of rainfall is a primary factor, droughts also involve water shortages and can be influenced by high temperatures.
Can floods affect soil quality?
Yes, floods can lead to soil erosion and degrade land quality.
What is a flash flood?
A flash flood is a sudden, intense flood, often caused by heavy rain.
Can both droughts and floods affect agriculture?
Yes, droughts can lead to crop failure due to water scarcity, while floods can destroy crops and farmland.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
