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
Located in the arid Alvord Desert, its low rainfall, sparse population, and minimal tree coverage create ideal conditions for stargazing.
—
Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
Additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are forecast.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
The water issue in Fayette County was made public when Georgia issued a drought declaration for the state in April amid a major rainfall shortage.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
In the Midwest, parts of Missouri and Illinois experienced widespread showers and thunderstorms Tuesday morning, with some of that rainfall leading to flash flooding in some areas.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
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Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
Additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are forecast.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
The water issue in Fayette County was made public when Georgia issued a drought declaration for the state in April amid a major rainfall shortage.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
In the Midwest, parts of Missouri and Illinois experienced widespread showers and thunderstorms Tuesday morning, with some of that rainfall leading to flash flooding in some areas.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
Cite this Entry
“Rainfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainfall. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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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