rainforest

noun

rain·​for·​est ˈrān-ˌfȯr-əst How to pronounce rainforest (audio)
-ˌfär-
variants or less commonly rain forest
plural rainforests also rain forests
1
: a tropical woodland with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and marked by lofty broad-leaved evergreen trees forming a continuous canopy

called also tropical rainforest

2

Examples of rainforest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and a rainforest, Secret Bay is a six-star luxury hotel routinely named the best in the region. Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024 Bearcats are mammals native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, zoo officials said. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Oct. 2024 Just inland from the Pacific Northwest’s rainforest drip line, with more than 10 feet of rain a year, are the forests dominated by Douglas fir, western red cedar and hemlock, growing in the mild climate with some 70 inches of rain a year, in a thick rumpled green cloak in the Cascade lowlands. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024 Punto Dos Studio, Andrés Villota View 14 Images Nestled in the dense Amazonian rainforest of Ecuador, A Lodging in the Pigüe by Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura embodies a connection between architecture and nature. New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2024 From the ancient rainforests of Queensland, to the waterfalls and islands in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, to the dynamic urban atmospheres of Sydney and Melbourne, there’s something for every type of traveler to enjoy here. Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2024 Prior to release from the temporary aviaries into the rainforests of Palmyra Atoll, each sihek was given a health exam. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024 Today, the Amazon rainforest is on the brink of a transformation into degraded savanna, which would dramatically accelerate the decline of wildlife and the destabilization of our climate globally. Rebecca Shaw, TIME, 9 Oct. 2024 While others born in the Amazon rainforest were still being nursed by their mothers, he was rented out to do a photo op in a Texas hotel room for $1,000 an hour. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainforest was in 1900

Dictionary Entries Near rainforest

Cite this Entry

“Rainforest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainforest. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

rain forest

noun
1
: an often tropical woodland with a high annual rainfall and very tall evergreen trees with tops forming a continuous layer

called also tropical rain forest

2

More from Merriam-Webster on rainforest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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