precipitation

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsi-pə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the quality or state of being precipitate : hastiness

2

: an act, process, or instance of precipitating

especially : the process of forming a precipitate

3

: something precipitated: such as

a

: a deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow

also : the quantity of water deposited

b

: precipitate sense 1

Synonyms

• haste
• hastiness
• hurry
• hustle
• precipitousness
• rush

Examples of precipitation in a Sentence

The weather forecast calls for some sort of frozen precipitation tomorrow—either snow or sleet.

a 50 percent chance of precipitation

Minerals are separated from the seawater by precipitation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Heat, precipitation or not, the golf world is ecstatic to have landed in one of the nation’s most prominent sports cities for its second PGA championship in eight years. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025

That was followed by isolated showers in the rest of the day, expected to result in about a tenth of an inch of precipitation. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 May 2025

But the past two months have been much drier-than-normal with many areas across central and south Florida receiving less than 50 percent of the normal precipitation. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

Colorado is the seventh-driest state, with the Front Range averaging around 18 inches of annual precipitation. —Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1502, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing precipitation

• acid precipitation

Rhymes for precipitation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

precipitation

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: unwise haste

2

: the process of precipitating or of forming a precipitate

3

: water or the amount of water that falls to the earth as hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow

Medical Definition

precipitation

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: the process of forming a precipitate from a solution

b

: the process of precipitating or removing solid or liquid particles from a smoke or gas by electrical means

2

: precipitate