rain 1 of 2

noun

ˈrān How to pronounce rain (audio)
Definition of rainnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Wednesday's rain made for a frustrating day for hundreds of travelers at Denver International Airport, including some football fans arriving for Thursday night's Broncos game. — Tori Mason, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Between the heat and the rain, everything has kind of given up. — Emma Jacobson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
Still, Wall Street is cautious about the rally being dependent on tech and whether higher bond yields could rain on the parade. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 But as the water rains down, the sound and lighting shift with the action into more of a movement piece. — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rain
  1. rainfall
  2. hail
  3. pour
  4. lavish
  5. storm
  6. barrage
  7. flood
  8. heap
Noun
  • The additional rainfall is not associated with Rachel, but a different weather system moving across the West, Orrison said.
    — JAIMIE DING, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That could possibly make 2026 to 2027 one of the warmest on record, although parts of the West and South, especially the Gulf Coast, could face a particularly stormy winter with a greater likelihood of rainfall and flood risks.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of rainfall
Noun
  • Damaging winds and hail will be the main threats, but an isolated tornado is possible.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Both died in a hail of bullets — more than 20 rounds fired just after 5 last Friday night near Ellicott Drive and Oakhurst Place.
    — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hail
Verb
  • Senate Democrats’ top super PAC is pouring nearly $7 million more into two major races, according to details shared first with Semafor.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • On Hollywood stars’ social media feeds, messages of support are pouring in.
    — Lou Gomis, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of pour
Verb
  • The tech lobby — currently led by ginormous AI companies — has emerged as the largest source of campaign contributions in US history, lavishing tens of millions of dollars on both for Democrats and Republicans alike.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The two governors, who mended fences after clashing over last year’s Proposition 50 redistricting campaign, lavished praise on each other for their climate bona fides.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of lavish
Noun
  • Simon has weakened to a Category 2 storm, its eye remaining just offshore as its most powerful winds and rain slammed communities between the Sierra Madre and the ocean and were forecast to persist off the coast of Puerto Vallarta.
    — JAIMIE DING, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Typically, when embroiled in these sorts of escalating back-and-forths, Larry’s go-to move was the quit-and-storm-off.
    — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of storm
Noun
  • Young men from the village pushed the settlers back with a barrage of stones, allowing Khrzhanovskiy and Nathaniel to run to Levine and guide her toward the village.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Jose Cabrera, was standing at the front entrance of the club when the barrage of bullets began flying.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of barrage
Verb
  • To make way for what will be the third reservoir to serve the canal, an area of more than 11,000 acres that is currently home to schools, churches, farms and cemeteries will have to be flooded and at least 1,600 residents re-homed.
    — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In the post-George Floyd era, some young adults have been reluctant to become police officers compared to the days when departments were flooded with applications from eager jobseekers.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of flood
Verb
  • European leaders are rallying around Zelensky after the White House heaped pressure on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities, even as Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continue unabated.
    — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Bringing up the rear this week, these two are coming off heaping praise from the judges for their rumba on Week 4.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of heap

Phrases Containing rain

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raiment
rain
rainbow
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Cite this Entry

“Rain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rain. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rain

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rain

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