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

Much of central Texas remains under a flood watch, with some areas facing life-threatening flash floods as torrential rains hammer the Lone Star State on Thursday. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025

The storm is forecast to unleash torrential rain over Southern California and heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada mountains. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

This was accentuated later by a torrential downpour that, reverberating off the tent, made conversation almost impossible. —Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025

In September, Typhoon Ragasa brought destructive winds and torrential rain to the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China as the strongest storm in the region this year. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 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