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

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
The hurricane center also is watching a disturbed area over the Bay of Campeche in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico that has a minimal chance of formation but is forecast to bring heavy rains to portions of Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula and southern Mexico this week. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025 The storm is currently moving north-northwest at about 5 mph, and is expected to bring heavy rains and gusty winds over parts of southwestern Mexico on Monday. Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025 Common factors such as over-fertilization in the fall, poor drainage, over-irrigation or heavy rains from tropical storms can promote its development. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025 After heavy rains a few years ago, runoff from construction sites turned the water a murky brown. Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said on social platform X that the loss of lives and damage caused by heavy rains in Nepal are distressing. CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025 The extreme weather has also battered neighboring Nepal, where heavy rains have triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 47 people since Friday. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025 Tens of thousands of people have fallen ill with dengue, cholera, and other diseases after recent rains, compounding a series of crises in the country. semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Rood recalled the rains of 2022 that were remnants of Hurricane Kay. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
  • The organization focuses on the big disasters that often grip the headlines, such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes – but also offers information about preparing for winter storms, tsunamis, tornados, lightning, hail and extreme heat.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • With a constellation of eyes in the sky, forecasters could suddenly monitor conditions over oceans and remote landmasses, filling in major gaps in their models and providing an early warning system about potential storms forming far away.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Number of the day 600 That’s roughly how many drones and missiles Russia fired at targets across Ukraine on Sunday morning in one of the largest barrages of the war.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Having friends secures Israel’s place in the region and the world, as the remarkable coordinated response to Iranian missile barrages should’ve made clear.
    Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Wallen then stumbles to his feet in the middle of the road, as rain pours down, with close-up images showing Wallen in tattered clothes and covered in scrapes and cuts.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Blass pours some coffee, lights a cigar, and selects his first pitch.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The river will still become polluted after heavy rainfalls due to runoff from the streets and flushing of city sewage systems.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
  • 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 their leaves and were just bare trunks and branches.
    Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • There is a 20% chance of showers.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • From October 14 to 20, the forecast calls for a few rain and snow showers, along with chilly conditions.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In shocking footage posted on Facebook, large waves are seen breaking through the glass doors of the lobby as water rushes in and quickly floods the hotel.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Bright sunlight floods the sensors with background noise, surface reflections distort the signal, and long-distance measurements require higher stability than short-range indoor use.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 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
Noun
  • Zippers and clasps are built to stand up to daily use—mine has even encountered a few rainstorms—without losing shine or functionality.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The Miami office of the National Weather Service said the region could see 1 to 2 inches of rain over the weekend, with some spots seeing up to 3 inches under particularly heavy rainstorms.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Rains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rains. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rains

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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