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

Blizzards buried parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota while torrential rains flooded homes and washed out roads in Hawaii. —Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026

Some of the storms are likely to become severe, containing damaging winds and torrential downpours. —Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026

Elsewhere in the country there were blizzard conditions in parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, torrential rains with flooding in Hawaii, and an early bout of extreme heat in the Southwest. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026

For millions of Americans in 2026, the rain has become a torrential downpour. —Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 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