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

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

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

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
Noun
Both are durable, standing up to the summer heat and rains, often lasting well into late fall or early winter. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026 Spring rains also create pockets of moisture, which attract many types of insects. Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026 Proper fertilization and watering support flowering, as agapanthus naturally bloom following seasonal rains. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 May 2026 The inaugural Salar International Film Festival (SalarFF) kicks off May 28-31, staged entirely on the 3,861 square mile expanse of pure white salt where rains transform the surface into a massive mirror reflecting the sky. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 6 May 2026 The reality is that heavy rains flood our streets and threaten our basements. Alaina Harkness, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026 Sunday’s rains are cooling things off, with a forecast high of 84. Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026 Heavy rains in the country started in March at the beginning of the rainy season and have left a trail of destruction, with more than 100 people dead by the end of March. ABC News, 3 May 2026 Development in the Dotte 🪠 Fish or human feces often wash up in KCK homes during those merciless spring rains. Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 30 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
  • Some storms could produce hail larger than 3 inches in diameter, especially with stronger rotating cells.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Hail damage contributed to $51 billion in insured losses last year from severe storms, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The last strikes in Beirut were on April 8, when a series of massive Israeli barrages, including in central Beirut, killed more than 350 people.
    Joshua Boak, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
  • On Saturday, Moscow pummeled the central city of Dnipro and other areas for more than twenty hours with barrages of missiles and drones, killing at least seven people.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Sun’s attorney, Wilson Carroll, argued that with rising operations expenses and the amount the company pours back into the property, the increases were fair.
    Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
  • She’s made the ear into which Salieri pours his late-life confessions, and in an even later episode is visited by Alexander Pushkin (Jack Farthing), the Russian writer, who wants to write a play based on the Mozart-Salieri legend.
    Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Bradley likes to brush her biscuits with heavy cream to lend a nice shiny coat and promote a golden crown, then showers them with poppy seeds and salt for extra crunch and flavor.
    Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
  • When the crowd at an early gig showers his sons with physical coins, Domingo’s expression shows offense at people treating the Jackson 5 like street performers.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 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
  • The camp surrounds a sprawling forest glade that floods in the rainy season.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
  • Natural light floods the inside through floor-to-ceiling glass on the window facing the bed.
    Stefan Ionescu May 06, New Atlas, 6 May 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 11 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rains

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster