torrential

adjective

tor·​ren·​tial tȯ-ˈren(t)-shəl 

tə-

1

a

: relating to or having the character of a torrent

torrential rains

b

: caused by or resulting from action of rapid streams

torrential gravel

2

: resembling a torrent in violence or rapidity of flow

torrentially

tȯ-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē, 

tə- 

adverb

Examples of torrential in a Sentence

The rain caused torrential flooding.

Recent Examples on the Web

Forecasters also warned of flash flooding and river flooding tonight as storms could drop torrential rain and repeatedly hit the same areas, with some spots picking up 2 to 4 inches. —Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, roads were still flooded Thursday after a torrential rainstorm slammed the area Wednesday night. —Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

The report also notes that Haiti is still recovering from last year’s Hurricane Melissa, which caused torrential rain, flooding, landslides and destruction across the southern and west regions of the country. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026

The term refers to warmer-than-average waters along the equatorial Pacific that can influence weather across the globe, raising the odds of searing drought in some regions and torrential rain in others. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

torrent entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for torrential

• credential
• prudential
• sequential
• tangential
• circumferential
• inconsequential
• consequential
• deferential
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential

Kids Definition

torrential

adjective

tor·​ren·​tial tȯ-ˈren-chəl 

tə-

: relating to or resembling a torrent

torrential rains

torrentially

-ˈrench-(ə-)lē 

adverb