rainwater

noun

rain·​wa·​ter ˈrān-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: water fallen as rain that has not collected soluble matter from the soil and is therefore soft

Examples of rainwater in a Sentence

a bucket filled with rainwater

Recent Examples on the Web

In hot, humid areas like the southern states of the US, when hurricanes blow a small piece of roof off, buckets of rainwater might pour down into the interior, causing mold to form on walls and soft furnishings in a matter of hours. —Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 9 July 2024

Last month, a rainwater storage facility was opened that can hold 20 Olympic swimming pools worth of water to reduce pressure on the sewage network and lower the risk of wastewater being discharged into the Seine, according to a statement from Paris 2024. —Billy Stockwell, CNN, 18 June 2024

Following rainy weather on June 17 and 18, the basin filled to 80% capacity, successfully preventing 40,000 cubic meters (40 million liters) of wastewater and rainwater from being discharged into the Seine, according to the city of Paris. —Chris Liakos, CNN, 7 Aug. 2024

Work has included an overhaul of outdated sewer systems and the construction of giant rainwater retention basins—such as the 50,000-cubic-meter Bassin d’Austerlitz—designed to stock excess rainwater during heavy storms and reduce the amount of untreated water flowing into the Seine. —Helen Massy-Beresford, WIRED, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rainwater

noun

rain·​wa·​ter -ˌwȯt-ər 

-ˌwät-

: water falling or fallen as rain

Biographical Definition

Rainwater

biographical name

Rain·​wa·​ter ˈrān-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

L(eo) James 1917–1986 American physicist