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
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
Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Rome has been soaked by steady rains since before Christmas, and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri issued an ordinance for Tuesday limiting public access to parks and other areas at risk for falling trees and flooding.
—Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
In the fall of 1983, after a prolonged drought, torrential rains fell for three months in Chulucanas, destroying roads, bridges, and two thousand homes.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Add wood ashes to the flower bed in late winter or early spring, and the rains will help the nutrients leach into the soil.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
The heavy rains will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep terrain, especially in and around these areas.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Jan. 2026
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
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
Arizona's summer storms that come with the monsoon season, coupled with winter rains, create frequent flooding throughout the state that can prove deadly for motorists.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Rome has been soaked by steady rains since before Christmas, and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri issued an ordinance for Tuesday limiting public access to parks and other areas at risk for falling trees and flooding.
—Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
In the fall of 1983, after a prolonged drought, torrential rains fell for three months in Chulucanas, destroying roads, bridges, and two thousand homes.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Add wood ashes to the flower bed in late winter or early spring, and the rains will help the nutrients leach into the soil.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
The heavy rains will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep terrain, especially in and around these areas.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Jan. 2026
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
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 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share