rainwater

noun

rain·​wa·​ter ˈrān-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: water fallen as rain that has not collected soluble matter from the soil and is therefore soft

Examples of rainwater in a Sentence

a bucket filled with rainwater

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials later built a $1.5-million drain pipe to divert rainwater away from the basin and worked to increase storage capacity of the area’s catch basins. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025

Staff will cover the benefits of collecting rainwater and some best practices for making rain barrels. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025

The stench is coming from the dewatering of the lake formed from 40 years of rainwater filling the dormant, open mine pit that closed in 1988. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2025

Because rainwater and water from residences share the same sewer pipes, excessive rain can lead to water backups in streets and basements, according to the water reclamation district. —William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rainwater

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• groundwater
• headwater

Kids Definition

rainwater

noun

rain·​wa·​ter -ˌwȯt-ər 

-ˌwät-

: water falling or fallen as rain

Biographical Definition

Rainwater

biographical name

Rain·​wa·​ter ˈrān-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

L(eo) James 1917–1986 American physicist