as in rains
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
the downpour was so heavy that we were soaked by the time we got to the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of downpours
The Star reported that three downpours turned the area near the stage into a mess in 2014, when mud-slinging left many attendees covered in goop.
—
Dan Kelly
october 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Slow-moving thunderstorms frequently unleash catastrophic downpours over the South Fork burn scar, a region still reeling from two fires that scorched over 15,000 acres and destroyed 1,400 structures.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
The weather played its part, too, confusing the fashion crowd with downpours one moment, and warm sun popping up again the next.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Storms can be spotty and short-lived, while others can unleash strong winds, flashes of lightning and torrential downpours.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
The beginning of the season is off to an unsettled start as Middle Tennessee is forecasted to experience several days of potentially severe weather, including damaging winds and heavy downpours.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Another round of storms is set to arrive during the evening, some strong with gusty winds and heavy downpours, according to Fox19 meteorologists.
—Enquirer Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Sep. 2025
Prepare for frequent downpours.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Flash flooding occurred in other parts of the Southwest as the heaviest downpours dropped 1 to 2 inches of rain in around an hour for some spots, causing some roads to be washed out and anything in the way of rushing floodwaters to be swept away.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2025
Dan Kelly
october 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Slow-moving thunderstorms frequently unleash catastrophic downpours over the South Fork burn scar, a region still reeling from two fires that scorched over 15,000 acres and destroyed 1,400 structures.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
The weather played its part, too, confusing the fashion crowd with downpours one moment, and warm sun popping up again the next.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Storms can be spotty and short-lived, while others can unleash strong winds, flashes of lightning and torrential downpours.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
The beginning of the season is off to an unsettled start as Middle Tennessee is forecasted to experience several days of potentially severe weather, including damaging winds and heavy downpours.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Another round of storms is set to arrive during the evening, some strong with gusty winds and heavy downpours, according to Fox19 meteorologists.
—Enquirer Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Sep. 2025
Prepare for frequent downpours.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Flash flooding occurred in other parts of the Southwest as the heaviest downpours dropped 1 to 2 inches of rain in around an hour for some spots, causing some roads to be washed out and anything in the way of rushing floodwaters to be swept away.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downpours
Noun
-
The hurricane center also is watching a disturbed area over the Bay of Campeche in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico that has a minimal chance of formation but is forecast to bring heavy rains to portions of Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula and southern Mexico this week.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The storm is currently moving north-northwest at about 5 mph, and is expected to bring heavy rains and gusty winds over parts of southwestern Mexico on Monday.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The organization focuses on the big disasters that often grip the headlines, such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes – but also offers information about preparing for winter storms, tsunamis, tornados, lightning, hail and extreme heat.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
With a constellation of eyes in the sky, forecasters could suddenly monitor conditions over oceans and remote landmasses, filling in major gaps in their models and providing an early warning system about potential storms forming far away.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downpours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downpours. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share