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

Any slow-moving thunderstorms with torrential rain could also trigger localized flash flooding, especially in urban, poor-drainage areas, and bring frequent lightning. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2025

Provide the Right Amount of Moisture A summer of scorching temperatures and, perhaps, torrential rains is hard on many plants. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

For the next six hours, both gentle showers and torrential thunderstorms rained down, dropping about an inch of rain on Manchester, according to the National Weather Service. —Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025

So, the weather this weekend promises to be delightful but there have been weekends of torrential storms and horrific heat. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

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