as in rains
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
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Recent Examples of rainstorms
The water year was off to a raging start with a series of rainstorms bringing much of Southern California to average or above average rain levels for the year in a period of just a few months.
—
Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
The air under a ridge is also stable, preventing the formation of clouds or rainstorms—the clear skies allow sunlight to heat up the surface unimpeded.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, which is then released in fewer, more extreme rainstorms.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent rainstorms across California are also contributing to a surge in termite sightings.
—Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Then, for those seeds to grow, rainstorms need to occur at an even interval between winter and spring.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Higher temperatures convert would-be snowstorms into rainstorms.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Subsequent rainstorms must then be evenly spaced throughout the winter and spring.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
Multiple rounds of rainstorms will sweep through the Kansas City area this week, and the National Weather Service says some stronger storms could bring heavy rain, flooding, large hail and damaging winds.
—Robert A. Cronkleton
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
The air under a ridge is also stable, preventing the formation of clouds or rainstorms—the clear skies allow sunlight to heat up the surface unimpeded.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, which is then released in fewer, more extreme rainstorms.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent rainstorms across California are also contributing to a surge in termite sightings.
—Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Then, for those seeds to grow, rainstorms need to occur at an even interval between winter and spring.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Higher temperatures convert would-be snowstorms into rainstorms.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Subsequent rainstorms must then be evenly spaced throughout the winter and spring.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
Multiple rounds of rainstorms will sweep through the Kansas City area this week, and the National Weather Service says some stronger storms could bring heavy rain, flooding, large hail and damaging winds.
—Robert A. Cronkleton
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rainstorms
Noun
-
Muddy floodwaters from severe rains inundated streets, pushed homes off their foundations, swallowed vehicles and prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents in towns north of Honolulu on Friday as officials warned of the possible failure of a 120-year-old dam.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 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,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The National Weather Service confirmed on Tuesday that 12 tornadoes were produced across Illinois and northern Indiana during a series of severe storms earlier this month.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Last week, two major storms dumped four feet of rain in Oʻahu and Maui, according to CBS.—
Chantell Murphy,
Outside,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rainstorms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rainstorms. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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