rain 1 of 2

1
as in rainfall
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity the rain continued for most of the day

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2
as in hail
a heavy fall of objects the Norman invaders fled when the castle's defenders threw a rain of stones down upon them

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rain

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to pour
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

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2
as in to lavish
to give readily and in large quantities she rained praise upon her graduating students the squadron rained bombs on the enemy's fortifications

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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 rain
Noun
In fact, the rain actually bought Hardin some time after his escape, according to Champion. Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 30 May 2025 In her post's caption, Knowles teased her daughter for pausing the concert for the gender reveal in the rain. Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
Even though it’s been raining all afternoon, a sizeable crowd has gathered, and the sun is coming out. Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 More missiles rained down on Ukraine overnight into Monday. Jackie Northam, NPR, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rain
Noun
  • The threat of excessive rainfall increases on May 25 for states in the central and southern Plains, the middle and lower Mississippi Valley and the Tennessee Valley, forecasters said.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • The main severe threats with this activity will be large hail and damaging winds, with widespread rainfall totals expected to be around 1 to 2 inches.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches) are anticipated.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
  • Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches) are foreseen.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • For a man who had crossed an ocean from Calabria, Italy, to build a better life, who had poured himself into his family with tireless devotion, this was a full-circle moment.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • The bartender accidentally poured Champagne into the Manhattan, and realizing his clumsy mistake, set it aside.
    Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Other Housewives including Cynthia Bailey lavished praise in the comments. 40 of 79 Evan Asher Jenny McCarthy's son coordinated with his date with a pink bow tie and pocket square to match her gown.
    Lindy Segal, People.com, 17 May 2025
  • Presidents giving access to campaign donors is nothing new — in the ’90s, the Bill Clinton administration lavished dozens of Democratic contributors with stays in the Lincoln Bedroom, in a scandal known as the Fat Cat Hotel.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • In the original film, Lilo reveals to Stitch that her parents died in a car accident during a storm.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Flooding is likely, especially for rivers already at elevated levels due to storms earlier this week.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • In September 1967, his unit was in the Con Thien area when they were bombarded by heavy enemy artillery and a rocket barrage.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
  • That barrage prompted further salvos that led to the downing of Indian fighter jets (according to Pakistani and international media) and Pakistani jets (according to Indian media).
    AQIL SHAH, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • When a storm is approaching, most evacuation orders are issued for areas where storm surge is a threat or for those near a body of water that is prone to flooding.
    Mallory Nicholls, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025
  • Severe storms with large hail, damaging wind gusts, flooding downpours and a few tornados will complicate Memorial Day travel in parts of the Southern Plains, Mid-South and Tennessee Valley, a National Weather Service (NWS) forecast said.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Whenever there appeared to be a lull in Lee’s case and the narrative threatened to shift toward scrutiny of the police for their lack of hard evidence or progress in the case, a new leak would emerge to re-inflame public outcry, conveniently heaping more pressure on the actor to cooperate.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
  • The collapse has heaped pressure on medical facilities in the neighbouring city of Omdurman, across the Nile.
    Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rain. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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