1
as in storms
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
the rain continued for most of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barrages
a heavy fall of objects
the Norman invaders fled when the castle's defenders threw a rain of stones down upon them
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pours
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in showers
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
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Recent Examples of rains
Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Water deeply but only occasionally as the rains end.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Some of the storms have the potential to be strong, mainly in far northwest Missouri, with gusty winds, heavy rains and isolated large hail possible, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Spring is when our lawns look most fresh and green, turning verdant and lush from frequent rains and warming temperatures.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Reapply sprays throughout the season and after heavy rains to keep them effective.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
Gullies cut deep from rains expose red soil.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Heavy rains in 2024 led to the boom.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The rains are expected to reduce the elevated fire danger in Northwestern Oklahoma.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
That and the fact it never rains.
—Lauren Bans, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
This dust accumulates in the corners, lurks under the sofa, and rains down on your lampshades.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
From his pulpit, Wicks rains down selectively vituperative fire and brimstone, with an eye toward provoking walkouts from unsuspecting visitors—say, a gay couple or a single mom.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
The dust is microscopic asteroid and comet debris that constantly rains in space, eventually making its way to Earth.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Sulfuric acid rains down through the sickly yellow sky but never reaches the lava-licked ground.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Now, in preparation for a ground invasion, Israel rains yet more American bombs on Gaza City—another round of mindless, brutal violence against a population that has endured it every day for almost two years.
—Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
It is hurt, evident by the acid blood that rains down, but the Xenomorph is not dead.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Heavy rains strand motorists in hip-high water and disrupt Kenya Airways flights overnight.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Water deeply but only occasionally as the rains end.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Some of the storms have the potential to be strong, mainly in far northwest Missouri, with gusty winds, heavy rains and isolated large hail possible, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Spring is when our lawns look most fresh and green, turning verdant and lush from frequent rains and warming temperatures.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Reapply sprays throughout the season and after heavy rains to keep them effective.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
Gullies cut deep from rains expose red soil.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Heavy rains in 2024 led to the boom.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The rains are expected to reduce the elevated fire danger in Northwestern Oklahoma.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Time seems to collapse in on itself when bombs keep dropping overhead, and the act of trying to visit a next-door neighbor becomes a matter of life or death as sniper fire rains down.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
That and the fact it never rains.
—Lauren Bans, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
This dust accumulates in the corners, lurks under the sofa, and rains down on your lampshades.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
From his pulpit, Wicks rains down selectively vituperative fire and brimstone, with an eye toward provoking walkouts from unsuspecting visitors—say, a gay couple or a single mom.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
The dust is microscopic asteroid and comet debris that constantly rains in space, eventually making its way to Earth.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Sulfuric acid rains down through the sickly yellow sky but never reaches the lava-licked ground.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Now, in preparation for a ground invasion, Israel rains yet more American bombs on Gaza City—another round of mindless, brutal violence against a population that has endured it every day for almost two years.
—Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
It is hurt, evident by the acid blood that rains down, but the Xenomorph is not dead.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rains
Noun
-
Several areas in the Kansas City metro are under severe weather watches and warnings, including a tornado warning, as storms roll through the area Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Officials offer up to $5,000 to residents cleaning up sewage backups after certain storms, though activists say more is needed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sirens also sounded in Jerusalem, and explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv as Israel's air defenses worked to intercept barrages from Iran.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Sirens also sounded in Jerusalem, and sounds of explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv as Israel’s air defenses worked to intercept barrages from Iran.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Homeland Security now pours its resources into border protection and immigration.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
With Hunt out of the picture, the contrast between Cornyn and Paxton could turn especially ugly as more Republican donor money pours in to help Cornyn.—
Joseph Morton,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Plan on some morning snow showers around the Philadelphia region for your drive in to work, school or the gym on Wednesday.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
For her part, Rachel routinely showers her husband with words of affirmation in anniversary and birthday posts on Instagram.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
During years of drought, when the water level dropped, trees grew in the lake bed, but when water returned following heavy rainfalls, the trees lost all their leaves and were just bare trunks and branches.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The researchers analyzed tree-ring data from across Europe to see how temperatures fluctuated across the century leading up to the Black Death to better understand the massive rainfalls Bauch had seen referenced in records.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The new Sky View panoramic roof—a single unbroken pane of glass running from the B-pillar all the way to the rear—floods the cabin with light and creates a sense of openness.—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The introduction of Allen Klein [the notorious business manager whom Lennon advocated to take over the Beatles' affairs] precipitates the band’s crumbling.—
Joe Hagan,
Vanity Fair,
26 Feb. 2026
-
But what precipitates an AI winter is some definitive evidence this hype cannot be met.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When Ray lavishes attention on another biker’s pet pillion, Kevin (Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters), Colin sulks until his master unzips his trousers and gives him a treat.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Majumdar lavishes her characters with careful attention, and so the reader comes to regard their most troubling actions as justified, if not inevitable.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rains. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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