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

Massive walk-in bathroom with a rainfall shower and a deep bathtub. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026

These herds continuously loop across the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya, driven by ancient instincts to follow seasonal rainfall and fresh grazing. — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

The windows and doors have all been tightly sealed during a mysterious and endless rainfall. — Barry Levitt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026

Extreme heat waves increase wildfire risk, and a warmer world supercharges storms that could ultimately send more rainfall. — Linley Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 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