1
: an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist
2
a
: a multicolored array
b
: a wide assortment or range
a rainbow of flavors
3
[from the impossibility of reaching the rainbow, at whose foot a pot of gold is said to be buried]
: an illusory goal or hope
4
1
: having many colors
2
: of, relating to, or being people of different races (see race entry 1 sense 1a) or cultural backgrounds
a rainbow coalition
Synonyms
Examples of rainbow in a Sentence
Adjective
the rainbow costumes worn by mummers at Mardi Gras
Recent Examples on the Web
Staff Author, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Southern Living 6-Piece Colored Mixing Bowl Sets with Lids
Regular food storage containers are easy to lose and don't look nearly as adorable as this rainbow set from the Southern Living collection at Dillard’s.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
Perhaps you were convinced that rainbow swirl outfished all the rest.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024
Megan Fox is well on her way to completing the rainbow with her hair color.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2024
And in the east, part of a rainbow changed to all red just as totality began.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
Photo of the day: Wildflower season is here Spring visitors are seeing Instagram-worthy vibrant blossoms in nearly every color of the rainbow in California.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
If a rainbow is marvellous, then understanding how all the colors of the rainbow are present, unified, in ordinary white light—that’s more marvellous.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
When Blinken held his symposium, the rainbow flag flew over U.S. embassies around the world to mark Pride Month.
—Lz Granderson, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Brian Owens, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2023
While DeSantis was speaking, a protester stood up and held up a rainbow Pride flag.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 18 July 2023
The rainbow-haired rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, was picked up by an ambulance and hospitalized following the violent attack.
—Jessica Schladebeck New York Daily News (tns), al, 22 Mar. 2023
Kenny shares a selfie on Facebook with a rainbow view above the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2022
Siwa added even more rainbow pizazz to the ensemble with her denim vest.
—Seventeen, 7 June 2022
For 30 days, every product from T-shirts to bagels come in a rainbow motif in a nod toward supporting (and earning money from) the LGBTQ+ community.
—Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 7 June 2022
The crowd looked like a mini-rainbow coalition as Black, White and brown fans lined up to cheer the players.
—John Blake, CNN, 31 Oct. 2021
Bright heaps of soft toys and rainbow balloons and candles.
—Star Tribune, 24 July 2021
Noun
Other photos included in the post were of a rainbow in the sky, a jar with wooden words that spelled, ‘F---s to give’ and a book titled Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley.
—Staff Author, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Southern Living 6-Piece Colored Mixing Bowl Sets with Lids
Regular food storage containers are easy to lose and don't look nearly as adorable as this rainbow set from the Southern Living collection at Dillard’s.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
Perhaps you were convinced that rainbow swirl outfished all the rest.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024
Megan Fox is well on her way to completing the rainbow with her hair color.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2024
And in the east, part of a rainbow changed to all red just as totality began.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
Photo of the day: Wildflower season is here Spring visitors are seeing Instagram-worthy vibrant blossoms in nearly every color of the rainbow in California.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
If a rainbow is marvellous, then understanding how all the colors of the rainbow are present, unified, in ordinary white light—that’s more marvellous.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
When Blinken held his symposium, the rainbow flag flew over U.S. embassies around the world to mark Pride Month.
—Lz Granderson, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The Garvin flies both a rainbow Pride flag and a Black Lives Matter flag, prompting the occasional shouted slur.
—Brian Owens, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2023
While DeSantis was speaking, a protester stood up and held up a rainbow Pride flag.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 18 July 2023
The rainbow-haired rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, was picked up by an ambulance and hospitalized following the violent attack.
—Jessica Schladebeck New York Daily News (tns), al, 22 Mar. 2023
Kenny shares a selfie on Facebook with a rainbow view above the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2022
Siwa added even more rainbow pizazz to the ensemble with her denim vest.
—Seventeen, 7 June 2022
For 30 days, every product from T-shirts to bagels come in a rainbow motif in a nod toward supporting (and earning money from) the LGBTQ+ community.
—Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 7 June 2022
The crowd looked like a mini-rainbow coalition as Black, White and brown fans lined up to cheer the players.
—John Blake, CNN, 31 Oct. 2021
Bright heaps of soft toys and rainbow balloons and candles.
—Star Tribune, 24 July 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rainbow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing rainbow
Articles Related to rainbow
Dictionary Entries Near rainbow
Cite this Entry
“Rainbow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainbow. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
rainbow
noun
rain·bow
ˈrān-ˌbō
: an arc or circle of colors that appears in the sky opposite the sun and is caused by the sun shining through raindrops, spray, or mist
Medical Definition
rainbow
noun
rain·bow
ˈrān-ˌbō 
slang
: a combination of the sodium derivatives of amobarbital and secobarbital in a blue and red capsule
More from Merriam-Webster on rainbow
Nglish: Translation of rainbow for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rainbow for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rainbow
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