rainforest

noun

rain·​for·​est ˈrān-ˌfȯr-əst How to pronounce rainforest (audio)
-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

Examples of rainforest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Some islands are lush and volcanic, with rainforests spilling into the sea; others are dry and desertlike, dotted with cactus and wind-bent divi-divi trees. Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026 His documentary plunges viewers into a 1996 expedition in Brazil to contact the isolate Indigenous Koruba people in the Amazon rainforest. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026 The Korubo people were some of the last tribes living in complete isolation in the rainforest. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026 Before the railroad's arrival, this rainforest retreat, which is surrounded by acres of undulating jungle, required a half-day's drive from Luang Prabang. Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026 Remarkably, natural wildfires in Africa create nutrients that the wind carries all the way to the Amazon rainforest. Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026 Native to the mountainous rainforests of Brazil, Easter lily (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) is an epiphyte, which grows in the crooks of tree branches. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026 Clarke says those numbers aren't as severe as the impact from mining projects currently damaging ecosystems on land, like where he's previously worked in the Indonesian rainforest. Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026 They’re found all over the world and in all manner of places, from rainforests and deserts to (much to our displeasure) human homes and bodies. Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainforest was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rainforest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainforest. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

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

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