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
ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Summer monsoon storms stayed away, while winter rains fizzled.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
When rains and warmth arrive, the endosperm digests itself and shunts food to the growing seedling.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The recent rains mean the islands’ famed waterfalls are flowing full force.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
Muddy floodwaters from severe rains inundated streets, pushed homes off their foundations, swallowed vehicles and prompted evacuation orders Friday for thousands of residents in towns north of Honolulu as officials warned of the possible failure of a a 120-year-old dam.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Hawaii suffered its worst flooding in more than 20 years as heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago, officials said Friday while warning that still more rain was expected during the weekend.
—Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
The winter storms typically impact the leeward side of the islands that are usually sheltered from tradewinds and intense rains, according to Steven Businger, a professor in the meteorology department at the University of Hawaii.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
Flooding events have affected 21 counties and at least two rivers have burst their banks since heavy rains started earlier this month.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Summer monsoon storms stayed away, while winter rains fizzled.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
When rains and warmth arrive, the endosperm digests itself and shunts food to the growing seedling.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The recent rains mean the islands’ famed waterfalls are flowing full force.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
Muddy floodwaters from severe rains inundated streets, pushed homes off their foundations, swallowed vehicles and prompted evacuation orders Friday for thousands of residents in towns north of Honolulu as officials warned of the possible failure of a a 120-year-old dam.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Hawaii suffered its worst flooding in more than 20 years as heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago, officials said Friday while warning that still more rain was expected during the weekend.
—Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
The winter storms typically impact the leeward side of the islands that are usually sheltered from tradewinds and intense rains, according to Steven Businger, a professor in the meteorology department at the University of Hawaii.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 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
-
Even minor changes in clouds, wind or storms can force delays, especially for a mission of this scale.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For people living along the coast, sand also defends against intense storms and sea level rise fueled by climate change.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After crushing Ukraine’s power grid during one of the worst winters in recent memory, Russian drone and missile barrages of civilian areas have continued unabated.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Sirens over Israel warned of barrages of incoming Iranian missiles and in the United Arab Emirates, two people were reported killed and three were wounded by falling shrapnel from a missile interception over Abu Dhabi on Thursday.—
Jon Gambrell,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An endless stream of trucks pours in before sunrise, feeding a project where thousands of workers move through the site in hardhats and neon vests.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Everything pours from Rocky Horror and Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, right?—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Rain showers from the rapidly-moving cold front could transition into snow showers March 16, leaving as much as a brief dusting of snow on surfaces, NWS Louisville officials said.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
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,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The delays affected a range of disaster-response functions, including housing inspections, temporary sheltering and crisis counseling, and slowed the distribution of aid tied to major events such as the July 2025 Texas floods and Hurricane Helene.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
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