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

These powerful systems can produce destructive winds, torrential rain, and coastal flooding. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

Showers and thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon and evening with the strongest of the storms creating torrential downpours. —Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025

Starting in March, this is a chance to see the countryside at its most abundant: Smells are intense as the plants and trees burst into life, and the torrential, but fleeting, rainstorms soak the landscape in spectacular fashion. —Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 1 Aug. 2025

Heavy storms that developed on Thursday afternoon and lasted through the evening dumped torrential rain on millions in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 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