torrential

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adjective tor·ren·tial \ tȯ-ˈren(t)-shəl , tə- \

Definition of torrential

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

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torrentially

play \-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

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Examples of torrential in a Sentence

The rain caused torrential flooding.

Recent Examples of torrential from the Web

MUMBAI, India — A five-story building collapsed in India’s financial capital of Mumbai, killing 12 people and injuring 14 others on Thursday, after torrential rains lashed the country’s west.

— Washington Post, "Building collapses in India, killing at least 12; 25 trapped," 31 Aug. 2017
Exxon, Shell and other companies have reported to Texas regulators that some of their storage tanks and other facilities near Houston were damaged by the torrential rains and flooding.

— david koenig, The Seattle Times, "Harvey knocks out more refineries, shifting global oil flows," 30 Aug. 2017
The storm has brought torrential rain that breached a levee, threatened dams and may be destroying drains.

— brian k sullivan, Bloomberg.com, "Harvey Makes Second Landfall on Battered Gulf Coastline," 30 Aug. 2017
A few years ago, a section of my neighborhood in La Grange flooded after torrential rains.

— lynn petrak, chicagotribune.com, "Petrak: Helping La Grange, Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey floods," 30 Aug. 2017
Torrential rains punctuating periods of drought might have created turbulent rivers choked with sediment that buried skeletons intact.

— carolyn gramling, Science | AAAS, "Did tiny algae fell mighty dinosaurs?," 29 Aug. 2017
As torrential rain continued and floods swelled in Texas this weekend, thousands of people trapped in Harvey’s path started calling 911 and other emergency lines for help.

— marina koren, The Atlantic, "Using Twitter to Save a Newborn From a Flood," 28 Aug. 2017
The remnants of Harvey continue to batter Southeast Texas, and flooding is occurring in Houston as the result of torrential rains.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers to fly to Dallas on Sunday, series at Houston in doubt," 27 Aug. 2017
Another round of torrential rains on Monday night into Tuesday caused flooding and required a number of water rescues.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "Chiefs Hall of Famer Neil Smith helps woman stuck in car in flood waters," 23 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'torrential.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of torrential

1849

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

TORRENTIAL Defined for English Language Learners

torrential

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adjective

Definition of torrential for English Language Learners

: coming in a large, fast stream

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See words that rhyme with torrential Spanish Central: Translation of torrential Nglish: Translation of torrential for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of torrential for Arabic speakers

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torrential

Definition of torrential

torrentially

Examples of torrential in a Sentence

Recent Examples of torrential from the Web

First Known Use of torrential

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

TORRENTIAL Defined for English Language Learners

torrential

Definition of torrential for English Language Learners

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torrential

Definition of torrential

torrentially

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torrential

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