rain 1 of 2

1
as in rainfall
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity the rain continued for most of the day

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2
as in hail
a heavy fall of objects the Norman invaders fled when the castle's defenders threw a rain of stones down upon them

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rain

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to pour
to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds it started raining early this morning and hasn't let up since

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2
as in to lavish
to give readily and in large quantities she rained praise upon her graduating students the squadron rained bombs on the enemy's fortifications

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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 rain
Noun
Yesterday's storms dumped up to 10 inches of rain on parts of the Texas Hill Country — a stark reminder of what just happened there, says NPR's Frank Morris. Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 July 2025 In a social media post, Howard officials said Main Street in Ellicott City had reopened after the area received 3 inches of rain in about three hours. Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2025
Verb
And then, Michael Bay showed up in 2007 and turned the nifty shapeshifters into screeching metallic war machines who died violent digital deaths and rained sparks and destruction upon cities — for seven movies and counting. Marc Snetiker, EW.com, 8 July 2025 And while no-one wants to get rained off, the lens is weather-sealed to prevent water damage. Chris McMullen, Space.com, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rain
Noun
  • There is a slight risk of excessive rainfall across most of east Central Florida.
    Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
  • Additional rainfall amounts of 0.2 to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are anticipated.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
  • The area is forecast to see 45 to 50 mph wind gusts with half-inch-sized hail and torrential rainfall.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • Once footage of the performance hit the Internet and rave reviews appeared in the U.K. press, offers for festival and headlining gigs soon poured in, leaving the band stunned.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
  • Slowly pour over cake mix to cover dry ingredients.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • In a year where the Legislature lavished corporations with more than a billion dollars in tax cuts, and the Legislature funneled so much into reserves, this budget is a shameful blow at those who suffer in the shadows.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 July 2025
  • Trump has threatened the sovereignty of allies and publicly berated their leaders, all while lavishing praise on the dictators and thugs who threaten them.
    KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT Updated July 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
  • But can the practice of cloud seeding cause torrential storms like this?
    Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Despite the return of the daily barrage of trade headlines, the S & P 500 and the Nasdaq each closed at a record high Thursday.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 12 July 2025
  • The second barrage of legal documents, filed two weeks after the first lawsuit, also suggests that the detention center is already making an impact on the fragile ecosystem around it.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Previous storms have flooded Mason’s building, damaging appliances and furniture, but this time she was mostly spared.
    William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Thousands of comments flooded the platform owned by Trump.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The introduction of a brand-new drill turns DeVries from omniscient observer to hands-on choreographer, with a heaping spoon of grace.
    Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Spoon a heaping cup of the meat sauce into the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish.
    Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rain. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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