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
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
—
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
Instead, it was filmed earlier this summer, during intense rainfall.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
The process starts when deep underground aquifers are tapped to make up for a lack of water from rainfall and rivers.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 25 July 2025
Greatest risk is heavy rainfall The larger overall risk from the storms will be torrential downpours that could lead to additional flooding, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
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Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
Instead, it was filmed earlier this summer, during intense rainfall.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
The process starts when deep underground aquifers are tapped to make up for a lack of water from rainfall and rivers.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 25 July 2025
Greatest risk is heavy rainfall The larger overall risk from the storms will be torrential downpours that could lead to additional flooding, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
Cite this Entry
“Rainfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainfall. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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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