raining

Definition of rainingnext
present participle of rain
1
as in pouring
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 raining Illinois, meanwhile, had no issue raining shots from long range in the first half, or speeding past USC through the lane, for that matter. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 Just hours after bombs began raining down on Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, two FBI agents arrived unannounced at Nikki Nojima Louis’ home in Seattle’s Japantown. Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026 In Ukraine, besides sleet and snow, the daily forecast includes drones and missiles raining down on the war-weary populace. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026 The conservancy's plan to shoot the deer from the air, using helicopters, was shut down in 2024 after residents voiced concerns of bullets raining down and rotting deer carcasses that would be left behind. Julie Sharp, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026 The shuttle and its precious human cargo were gone, incinerated in a fireball, debris raining into the Atlantic. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026 That means there is constantly enough power raining down on Earth to keep 10 million copies of NY running continuously all over the planet. Adam Frank, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 News reports simply don’t do justice to the level of chaos and disruption and trauma the federal government is raining down upon our communities. Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 15 Jan. 2026 The boos came raining down from the Grand Casino Arena rafters on Tuesday, a rare occurrence for the Minnesota Wild, one of the NHL’s top teams the past two months with only one loss in regulation in their previous 17 home games. Michael Russo, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raining
Verb
  • The sleek gooseneck spout makes pouring even a simple cup of tea feel like an elegant act of indulgence, while the maple accents set across the frosty matte blue add a touch of hygge to any space.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Minutes later, surveillance footage from inside the lobby of Portico North showed George exiting the ambulance, grabbing the gasoline and pouring it around the lobby floor, according to the affidavit.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Iowa’s athletics department apologized after a fan held a cellphone in the face of Nebraska men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg during a court storming on Tuesday night.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The cell phone video, recorded at a third grade youth basketball tournament in Murrysville, shows a woman storming the court after a game and yelling.
    Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The calls and texts came flooding in when Denver’s plan to sign him was reported.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Hochul also warned that there could be flooding in coastal areas.
    Mark Prussin, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Raining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raining. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

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