Definition of rainstormnext
as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity we ran into a big rainstorm on Highway 6, and the visibility was so poor we had to pull over

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 rainstorm An epic rainstorm is battering Chicago, putting deliveries and reservations in jeopardy. Alison Herman, Variety, 25 June 2026 This means the El Niño will increase the risks of costly extreme weather events such as tornadoes, winter storms and back-to-back rainstorms that lead to flooding and landslides. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 25 June 2026 As strings started to play Mahler’s Third Symphony, the smell of wet earth rose from our diffusers, and a virtual rainstorm began. Max Norman, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 This corner of Ealing, a borough in West London, used to flood regularly during heavy rainstorms, with water sweeping into local streets and inundating the nearby Greenford tube station, part of the London Underground. Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rainstorm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rainstorm
Noun
  • Severe storms with hail, heavy rain and winds up to 60 mph barreled through the Charlotte region Friday and left 21,000 Duke Energy customers without power.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2026
  • When heavy rain occurs, there is a risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone regions.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • Extreme rainfall events like this are becoming more common as planet-warming pollution drives temperatures higher, because warmer air holds more moisture – which storms can then wring out like a water-laden sponge in heavy, localized downpours.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • But the storm resulted in more than 2 million TEUs of vessel capacity waiting at berth in north Asian waters outside the two ports, according to a report from container shipping market research firm Linerlytica.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rainstorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rainstorm. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rainstorm

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