rainforest

noun

rain·​for·​est ˈrān-ˌfȯr-əst 

-ˌfär-

variants or less commonly rain forest

plural rainforests also rain forests

1

: a tropical woodland with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and marked by lofty broad-leaved evergreen trees forming a continuous canopy

called also tropical rainforest

2

: temperate rainforest

Examples of rainforest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Much of the island is protected by Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, a pristine patch of reef and rainforest inhabited by monkeys, sloths, sea turtles, rare bird species, and more than 80 types of coral. — Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

The Amazon rainforest spans much of northern South America and helps slow climate change by absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that warms the planet. — ABC News, 24 June 2026

Scientists recently discovered that this trap was the work of a spider from the rainforest of North Queensland. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

The lower mainland experiences a mild rainforest climate. — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Workers erected a stage in the middle of the rainforest. — John Otis, NPR, 21 June 2026

The new species was found in the jungles on Malaysia's part of Borneo, a large island known for its biodiverse rainforests. — CBS News, 19 June 2026

With its serene turquoise waters, emerald rivers and lush rainforests, the region has unsurprisingly become an epicenter of wellness tourism. — Sandra Guzmán, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Zoo officials said binturongs live in dense tropical and subtropical rainforests of South and Southeast Asia. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rainforest

• temperate rainforest
• tropical rainforest

Rhymes for rainforest

• aorist
• deforest
• chorused
• forest
• sorest

Kids Definition

rain forest

noun

1

: an often tropical woodland with a high annual rainfall and very tall evergreen trees with tops forming a continuous layer

called also tropical rain forest

2

: temperate rain forest