1
: the amount of precipitation usually measured by the depth in inches
2
Examples of rainfall in a Sentence
This area has an average annual rainfall of 12 inches.
an increase in annual rainfall
Recent Examples on the Web
Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are forecast.
—
Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
Southern China’s tropical to subtropical climate – with heavy rainfall, heat, and humidity – accelerates chemical weathering, while the region’s long history of tectonic and magmatic activity adds further erosion.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
Jamaica looks to be the epicenter for the worst of Melissa’s triple threat of extreme rainfall flooding, wind damage and storm surge.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Wednesday; uncertainty at that time range precludes exact storm totals.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
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Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
Southern China’s tropical to subtropical climate – with heavy rainfall, heat, and humidity – accelerates chemical weathering, while the region’s long history of tectonic and magmatic activity adds further erosion.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
Jamaica looks to be the epicenter for the worst of Melissa’s triple threat of extreme rainfall flooding, wind damage and storm surge.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Wednesday; uncertainty at that time range precludes exact storm totals.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
Cite this Entry
“Rainfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainfall. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rainfall
noun
rain·fall
-ˌfȯl 
1
: a fall of rain
2
: amount of precipitation
an annual rainfall of 20 inches
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