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

The Green River near Tukwila has risen about 15 feet over the past week because of multiple rounds of torrential rainfall from an earlier atmospheric river. —Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025

Days of torrential rain in Washington state have caused historic floods and left families stranded on rooftops, submerged vehicles and forced road closures. —CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

My first time wearing the loafers, I got stuck in a torrential downpour with no umbrella. —Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025

The Disaster Management Centre in Colombo said that all 25 districts of the country have been impacted, including torrential rainfall in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kandy, Mannar, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, etc. —Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Dec. 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