rainmaker
noun
rain·mak·er
ˈrān-ˌmā-kər 
1
: a person who produces or attempts to produce rain by artificial means
2
: a person (such as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business
also
: a person whose influence can initiate progress or ensure success
Examples of rainmaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Listen to this article Leora R. Levy, a Greenwich rainmaker who was Donald J. Trump’s choice for an ambassadorship and a nomination for U.S. Senate, lost her seat Tuesday night as one of Connecticut’s representatives on the Republican National Committee.
—
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2024
For market rainmakers like Amy Cappellazzo, a former Sotheby’s executive, the event was even more significant.
—Zachary Small, New York Times, 18 May 2024
The rainmaker As a percentage of the school’s budgets, the amount of money California’s public universities get from the state for operating costs has plummeted over the years, forcing schools to turn to private donors for help.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024
For example, the behavior of a rainmaker at an organization might be seen as acceptable or par for the course in that specific climate or culture—but when examined by a broader public with critical thinking skills and without organizational biases, that behavior might be seen in a different light.
—Christine Shen, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rainmaker 
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2024
For market rainmakers like Amy Cappellazzo, a former Sotheby’s executive, the event was even more significant.
—Zachary Small, New York Times, 18 May 2024
The rainmaker As a percentage of the school’s budgets, the amount of money California’s public universities get from the state for operating costs has plummeted over the years, forcing schools to turn to private donors for help.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024
For example, the behavior of a rainmaker at an organization might be seen as acceptable or par for the course in that specific climate or culture—but when examined by a broader public with critical thinking skills and without organizational biases, that behavior might be seen in a different light.
—Christine Shen, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rainmaker
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rainmaker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Rainmaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainmaker. Accessed 28 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
rainmaker
noun
rain·mak·er
ˈrān-ˌmā-kər
: a person (as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business
rainmaking
noun
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