rain shadow

noun

: a region of reduced rainfall on the lee side of high mountains

Examples of rain shadow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Olympic Peninsula is one of the most beautiful corners of the Pacific Northwest, and one unusually sunny nook is Sequim, a tiny town that is located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026 Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the nearby ranges, making its landscape a medley of mountain and desert. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026 San Jose, which sits in a rain shadow, received 1.21 inches of rain over 48 hours, Kennedy said. Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2026 This is due to the Chilean Andes mountain range, which creates a rain shadow over the area. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rain shadow

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rain shadow was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Rain shadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rain%20shadow. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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