rains 1 of 2

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

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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
The country’s mighty rivers and abundant rains mean most of its electricity comes from clean hydroelectric power. Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025 But the first full trading week of the month saw stocks caught in November rains. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025 Heavy rains have caused rivers to overflow, washing away entire communities, and have triggered landslides. Chad De Guzman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025 What To Know Most of the deaths were reported in the central province of Cebu, which Kalmaegi hit on Tuesday after roaring in from the Pacific, bringing torrential rains, powerful winds and extensive flooding, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 After a three-hour journey up the windy Tuquesa River, 56-year-old piragua driver Omar Canari finally arrived at the village, shirt drenched from heavy summer rains. Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025 To see Iguaçu Falls at its peak, plan your trip between December and March, when summer rains make the falls all the more impressive. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025 The torrential rains and strong winds caused severe flooding that left several rural communities isolated and damaged buildings, roads, crops and infrastructure in poor areas that had already been hit by Hurricane Oscar last year. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025 Hurricane Melissa was downgraded from its original Category, but damaging winds, flooding rains and a dangerous storm surge were expected to persist for the Bahamas as the storm headed east overnight. Christian Orozco, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
  • But some experts warn that what’s happening in Hatteras could be a glimpse of what’s to come in other coastal areas as climate change fuels more powerful storms and hastens erosion.
    Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Most of these stronger storms will be east of I-65 across south central Kentucky.
    Katie Wiseman, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The strike followed ballistic missile and drone barrages the previous night that claimed two lives in the capital and two more in Dnipropetrovsk.
    Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Ukraine needs a constant pipeline of weapons from its allies to defend against Russian barrages of missiles and drones – often several hundred in one night.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The nozzle pours a thick stream of concrete while gliding precisely on its course, stacking each layer, one after another, about an inch thick.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Jane pours another glass of wine.
    Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Faye is both highly supportive yet frustrated by the distant Springsteen, who showers her with love before disappearing into his music.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Snow showers throughout the week; travelers advised to remain cautious due to potential slick conditions.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Warmer air, for example, boosts evaporation, which leads to more moisture entrained in the atmosphere, intensifying rainfalls, while warmer oceans provide an energy source for more violent hurricanes.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Cameroon is subject to very heavy rainfalls.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In Cebu city, cars swept away by floods have piled into streets and houses.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Those floods killed at least 35 people, officials told AFP.
    Rajeev Tyagi, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But what precipitates an AI winter is some definitive evidence this hype cannot be met.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • An ancillary of the brand’s best-selling, ambery-woody eau, each aluminum tube contains a quick-absorbing lotion that lavishes skin with moisture, keeping hands feeling comfortable and cuticles softened with its moisturizing blend of avocado oil, shea butter, plus green tea and chamomile extracts.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Rains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rains. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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