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

The excessive heat and lack of precipitation as sped up the fruit ripening seasons. —Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024

There's an 80% chance of precipitation Tuesday afternoon into the evening, with showers and thunderstorms likely between 1-2 a.m. Wednesday morning. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 9 July 2024

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, starting before 2 p.m. then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 80%. —Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 8 July 2024

The chance of precipitation is 60% with new rainfall amounting to between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 8 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1502, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing precipitation

• acid precipitation

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