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
Most of the daytime hours will see some sunshine and dryness before rainfall returns in the late evening hours.
—
Austin Turner, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
However, when a super El Niño was predicted in 2015-16, California’s yearly rainfall totals ended up being about average.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
As the climate gets hotter, communities are facing more intense weather events, like hurricanes, floods and storms that produce heavier rainfall.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
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Austin Turner, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
However, when a super El Niño was predicted in 2015-16, California’s yearly rainfall totals ended up being about average.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
As the climate gets hotter, communities are facing more intense weather events, like hurricanes, floods and storms that produce heavier rainfall.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 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 14 Apr. 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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