rainstorm

noun

rain·​storm ˈrān-ˌstȯrm 

: a storm of or with rain

Synonyms of rainstorm

• rain
• storm

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

There's a climactic moment in Palm Springs when Poppy cuts down the plastic just in time for a summer rainstorm to hit. —Ashley Boucher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026

At the same time, a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, which is then released in fewer, more extreme rainstorms. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026

The rainstorms are rolling across the Everglades, but most of the showers are drying out before reaching the metroplex. —Scott Withers, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026

Now, with back-to-back rainstorms bearing down on the Bay Area, officials this week are racing to seal the gaping hole and protect the historic Great Lick Refractor telescope beneath it. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rainstorm

• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform
• planform
• platform
• preform

Kids Definition

rainstorm

noun

rain·​storm -ˌstȯ(ə)rm 

: a storm of or with rain