rainstorm

noun

rain·​storm ˈrān-ˌstȯrm How to pronounce rainstorm (audio)
: a storm of or with rain

Examples of rainstorm in a Sentence

we ran into a big rainstorm on Highway 6, and the visibility was so poor we had to pull over
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.
And if there's severe weather headed your way, like a hurricane, heavy rainstorm or tornado, the local National Weather Service office will put out a warning. Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 19 May 2025 The fires burned rapidly until rainstorms arrived on Thursday night, which allowed firefighters to reach 50 percent containment on the Munger Shaw fire, the smallest of the three. Jeff Ernst, New York Times, 17 May 2025 Entire neighborhoods are retrofitted with clear glass domes that activate during extreme rainstorms and uncontrollable wildfires. Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025 The 22-year-old star and his orange feline's sweet story began in Farmers Branch, Texas, where Milo was put up for adoption at a shelter after he was found during a Dallas rainstorm. Michelle Lee, People.com, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rainstorm

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainstorm was in 1799

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rainstorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainstorm. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

rainstorm

noun
rain·​storm -ˌstȯ(ə)rm How to pronounce rainstorm (audio)
: a storm of or with rain

More from Merriam-Webster on rainstorm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!