rainforest

noun

rain·​for·​est ˈrān-ˌfȯr-əst How to pronounce rainforest (audio)
-ˌfär-
variants or less commonly rain forest
plural rainforests also rain forests
1
: a tropical woodland with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and marked by lofty broad-leaved evergreen trees forming a continuous canopy

called also tropical rainforest

2

Examples of rainforest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wild chimpanzees often drum their limbs against the large roots of giant trees, sending out loud, booming sounds that resonate through the rainforest. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025 The victory came hot on the heels of the Berlinale Grand Jury Prize win for Brazilian filmmaker and visual artist Gabriel Mascaro’s The Blue Trail, a dystopian drama about a 77-year-old retiree’s life-changing journey through the Amazon rainforest. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 May 2025 The rainforest’s primary hiking trail, Hoh River Trail to Mineral Creek Falls, leads you through the trees and ferns to the 60-foot Mineral Creek falls. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025 This innovative design reduces fuel consumption to just one-fifth of what a heavy-lift helicopter would use, making the Z1 especially suited for transporting goods to remote and difficult-to-access areas such as the Arctic or the Amazon rainforest. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025 This may be explained by the humidity of the rainforest, which amplifies scents. Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 9 May 2025 On the day of their wedding anniversary, the busy day will consist of visiting a local community center, a producers’ market, a farm, and a rainforest to learn about preserving the habitat. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 22 Apr. 2025 Her travel writing has taken her to rainforests, remote tropical islands, and the red carpets of Cannes. Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025 This narrow ribbon of asphalt unfolds along Maui’s untamed eastern coastline, cutting through thick, green rainforest. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainforest was in 1900

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Cite this Entry

“Rainforest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainforest. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

rain forest

noun
1
: an often tropical woodland with a high annual rainfall and very tall evergreen trees with tops forming a continuous layer

called also tropical rain forest

2

More from Merriam-Webster on rainforest

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