rainmaker

noun

rain·​mak·​er ˈrān-ˌmā-kər 

1

: a person who produces or attempts to produce rain by artificial means

2

: a person (such as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business

also : a person whose influence can initiate progress or ensure success

rainmaking

ˈrān-ˌmā-kiŋ 

noun

Examples of rainmaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Matty is assigned to Olympia, a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025

The hiring spree paid off, with a surge in the firm’s revenue and in profits per partner—even as the new cadre of rainmakers took home salaries in the range of twenty million dollars. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025

The partners in particular are expected to be rainmakers. —Roger Dooley, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Michael Grimes, a Morgan Stanley tech rainmaker who advised Elon Musk on his takeover of Twitter, is in discussion to join the administration temporarily, according to The Wall Street Journal. —Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rainmaker

• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker
• lawmaker
• matchmaker
• pacemaker
• partaker
• peacemaker

Legal Definition

rainmaker

noun

rain·​mak·​er ˈrān-ˌmā-kər 

: a person (as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business

rainmaking noun