5PM. There's a mass exodus out of the city as people depart for home. What word describes the migration in the other direction -- A mass arrival of people? As far as I know, there isn't a word like "introdus".
Perhaps a word like "intrution"?
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You need a reverse diaspora.– tchrist ♦Commented Apr 2, 2014 at 0:13
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2If exo- means "outward" and endo- means "inward"… (How I wish English worked this way more often…)– kojiroCommented Apr 2, 2014 at 0:48
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or reverse exodus!– OldcatCommented Apr 2, 2014 at 1:13
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2@Oldcat So it’s down to aropsaid versus sudoxe then. Hm, I still think I like the first one better.– tchrist ♦Commented Apr 2, 2014 at 1:23
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2While "influx" is the word that comes most readily to mind, one should remember that "exodus" sometimes has a connotation of being expelled or cast out or fleeing onerous conditions, so a word which implies being welcomed or enticed to enter/return might be more appropriate in some circumstances. (I don't have any such words in mind, though.)– Hot LicksCommented Apr 2, 2014 at 19:50
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7 Answers
Consider "influx":
World English Dictionary — n 1. the arrival or entry of many people or things
Though I have not been able to find this anywhere quoted as an antonym, I feel fairly sure the modern word, in current use would be influx.
Oxford Dictionaries provides its literal meaning to do with an inflow of water into a lake, secondary significance. Its first meaning, according to OD is: an arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things. e.g 'a massive influx of tourists'
Its etymology is late 16th century (denoting an inflow of liquid, gas, or light) from Latin influxus, from influere flow in (see INFLUENCE).
Here's a more literal antonym: Exodus, or Exodos, is Greek for exit. So an antonym could be entrance: είσοδος or eisodos.
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7This is not an English word. If you wanted a Greek word, @BBON, you should help get this site off the ground Commented Apr 3, 2014 at 12:21
I've looked up larithmics terms and they refer to it as surges in population
Inrush as in "The inrush of Settlers"
The winning of the West / by Theodore Roosevelt. ... v.4. Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
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1A surge in population would tend to be more permanent than a mass arrival at 9am prior to a mass departure at 5pm [as given in the question] though?– Andrew Leach ♦Commented Apr 1, 2014 at 22:55
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It has been used with respect to emergency planning in governmental literature. What do you think of inrush? I have yet to find it associated with population increase but it does mean an inflow, a crowding, or a flooding in. Commented Apr 2, 2014 at 0:02
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@AndrewLeach It seems perfectly reasonable that an inrush could be followed by an outrush. Commented Apr 3, 2014 at 12:49
Describing the context will be helpful. Are you talking about something that is happening routinely/repeatedly (e.g. people coming back from holidays) or some sudden/one-time event (e.g. refugees)? If it's the former "influx" as mentioned above would be adequate. In the latter case I would, perhaps, use "a flood of new arrivals" if dramatic effect is sought.
I know "introitus" does have a different meaning, but, perhaps it could convey the meaning required for the opposite of exodus? Then there is insodus.
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2Really? Introitus: entering the vaginal opening. I think not, and the urban dictionary entry for "insodus" is very weak since 2006: 6 upvotes and 2 downvotes. Commented Apr 9, 2014 at 9:25
Exodus means to 'come out of', as to emigrate/emigration. Immigrate/immigration means 'going into' thus a good antonym for exodus.
answered Apr 9, 2014 at 13:59
