rains 1 of 2

Definition of rainsnext
plural of rain
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

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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

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rains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rain
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

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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

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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 rains
Noun
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron. Sarah Brumfield, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 New Braunfels has reopened public access to the Comal River after this week’s heavy rains raised concerns about the waterway flooding. Ricardo Delgado, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026 Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron. CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 In mid-April, persistent rains began. The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026 Summer-blooming bulbs and tropical bloomers thrive with the warmer soil and frequent rains spring brings. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026 In the spring, heavy rains make the waterfalls especially active, and in the fall, the leaves turn beautiful shades of orange, red, and yellow. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026 The annual rains have been failing over the past several years, interrupted in 2023 by devastating flooding. ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026 In Orlando’s core, the rains are expected to drop up to half an inch. Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Rain like it almost never rains in the desert around Las Vegas. Eric Boodman, STAT, 23 Mar. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rains
Noun
  • As for temperatures, the high Wednesday will reach the upper 50s, followed by a high of 79 Thursday before storms set in.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
  • While rain chances won't be too impressive, any of these storms that fire up do have the potential to turn severe.
    Michael Autovino, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Russia launched one of its largest barrages of drones and missiles on Ukraine this year, killing more than a dozen and wounding more than 100 people across the country, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday.
    Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The north especially has been affected by what locals have described locals as nonstop barrages, especially since Hezbollah joined the war.
    Max Burman, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • There are cooking classes inside the gorgeous culinary center where Mediterranean sunlight pours in from floor-to-ceiling windows.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Continue reading … IN OTHER NEWS BREWED IN THE USA — Beer giant pours $600M into US production in major bet on American growth.
    , FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After persistent rain showers over the weekend, isolated thunderstorms are expected to form over Boise, according to the National Weather Service.
    Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Security footage provided by Elfvin shows the robot rolling directly into the side panel of a bus shelter, which shatters and showers the robot and sidewalk around it with what appears to be glass shards.
    Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Recent storms and heavy rainfalls caused the area to flood again, prompting the city to jump back into action.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • When a lot of rain falls very quickly, the ground can’t soak up the water—leading to floods.
    Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Typhoon Sinlaku triggered floods, tore off roofs and overturned cars on Saipan.
    ABC News, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The hydrogen sulfide reacts with the iron content of the egg yolk, which precipitates into iron sulfide, a green-colored mineral.
    Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
  • 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
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 27 Apr. 2026.

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