rainmaker

noun

rain·​mak·​er ˈrān-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce rainmaker (audio)
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 noun

Examples of rainmaker 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.
In a law firm, don’t ask the rainmaker to train the associates. Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025 Parlays are often the rainmakers for sportsbooks, with more than 70% of NFL and NBA bets on FanDuel coming from parlays in 2023, according to FanDuel parent company Flutter Entertainment. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025 To make cold brew, add coarsely ground coffee to the container, place the rainmaker lid on top, then slowly pour 24 oz. Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025 When the tree crashes out of their living room, their identity is finally revealed; Gogo was a renowned traditional healer and Janet was a rainmaker. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rainmaker

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainmaker was in 1775

Cite this Entry

“Rainmaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainmaker. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Legal Definition

rainmaker

noun
rain·​mak·​er ˈrān-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce rainmaker (audio)
: a person (as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business
rainmaking noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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