rainforest
noun
rain·for·est
ˈrān-ˌfȯr-əst 
-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
Examples of rainforest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Known for its rainforests, waterfalls, and UNESCO World Heritage site — the Morne Trois Pitons National Park — Dominica is protecting its natural assets while promoting sustainable development.
—
Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
The director’s philosophical approach to the project draws from observations of nature, particularly how rainforests sustain themselves through symbiotic relationships.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 July 2025
Named by Travel + Leisure editors as one of the best places to visit in 2025, Nicaragua wows with everything from white-sand Caribbean islands and centuries-old churches to immense biodiversity in its untouched rainforests.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2025
The study opens up new questions about animal social behavior in the rainforest, according to a statement from Bielefeld University.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Find Endemic Mammals in the Depths of Borneo Borneo’s verdant rainforests are a top destination for orangutan-spotting, and while these creatures are most active during daylight hours, some of the island’s most elusive residents are most likely to make an appearance in the dead of night.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
And Juliane Koepcke, the sole survivor of a 1971 plane crash in a Peruvian rainforest that killed 91 people.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
Even though most gorilla treks in Rwanda and Uganda take place in the summer (the area’s dry season), the gorillas live in the rainforest, so rain can be expected anytime.
—Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2025
Costa Rica is an ecological marvel with jungles, rainforests, and active volcanoes, and people from all over the world come here for yoga or surfing retreats.
—Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
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Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
The director’s philosophical approach to the project draws from observations of nature, particularly how rainforests sustain themselves through symbiotic relationships.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 July 2025
Named by Travel + Leisure editors as one of the best places to visit in 2025, Nicaragua wows with everything from white-sand Caribbean islands and centuries-old churches to immense biodiversity in its untouched rainforests.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2025
The study opens up new questions about animal social behavior in the rainforest, according to a statement from Bielefeld University.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Find Endemic Mammals in the Depths of Borneo Borneo’s verdant rainforests are a top destination for orangutan-spotting, and while these creatures are most active during daylight hours, some of the island’s most elusive residents are most likely to make an appearance in the dead of night.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
And Juliane Koepcke, the sole survivor of a 1971 plane crash in a Peruvian rainforest that killed 91 people.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
Even though most gorilla treks in Rwanda and Uganda take place in the summer (the area’s dry season), the gorillas live in the rainforest, so rain can be expected anytime.
—Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2025
Costa Rica is an ecological marvel with jungles, rainforests, and active volcanoes, and people from all over the world come here for yoga or surfing retreats.
—Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rainforest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainforest. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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