rainfall

noun

rain·​fall ˈrān-ˌfȯl 

1

: the amount of precipitation usually measured by the depth in inches

2

: rain sense 2a

Synonyms of rainfall

• rain

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

Rooms come with rainfall showerheads or soaking tubs, mini cheesecakes by the beds each night, and iPads with software for making quick reservations. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

The El Niño climate pattern typically results in an unusually active hurricane season in the eastern Pacific and heavy winter rainfall in Southern California, and this El Niño is predicted to be the strongest in at least a generation. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2026

Cloudbursts, landslides, flash floods and extreme rainfall have wreaked havoc in the Indian Himalayas, resulting in the death of over 12,000 people and damage exceeding billions of dollars in the last 15 years. — ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

El Niños in 1982-83 and 1997-98 brought heavy rainfall and huge waves across several winter storms, causing flooding, landslides, coastal erosion and structural damage, the commission said in a report. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rainfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

rainfall

noun

rain·​fall -ˌfȯl 

1

: a fall of rain

2

: amount of precipitation

an annual rainfall of 20 inches