rainforest
noun
rain·for·est
ˈrān-ˌfȯr-əst 
-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
Examples of rainforest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the past 50 years, an area of the rainforest larger than the state of Texas has been razed to make way for farmland and cattle pasture.
—
Alex Cuadros, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Yet its influence extends far beyond the water’s edge, shaping the health of ecosystems as distant as the Amazon rainforest and the African savannah.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2025
While Colombia is equipped with towering mountains, pristine beaches and vast swathes of Amazon rainforest, the country also boasts a particularly underrated ecotourism destination in the form of Los Llanos.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Over a million species face extinction, ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest are tipping into collapse, and climate change is playing an increasingly influential role in the decline of biodiversity.
—Paige Vega, Vox, 21 Jan. 2025
From the flamboyant blossoms and birds of rainforests to the living rainbows of coral reefs, Earth’s surface is teeming with life.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2025
Photos show a few of these stone ruins, partially overgrown by the rainforest.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
This behavior is similar to what is seen in ants who are infected by fungi from the genus Ophiocordyceps in the Brazilian rainforest.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025
As a whole, the island boasts soaring mountain ranges, the third-largest rainforest worldwide, and pristine beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 29 Jan. 2025
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.
Alex Cuadros, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Yet its influence extends far beyond the water’s edge, shaping the health of ecosystems as distant as the Amazon rainforest and the African savannah.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2025
While Colombia is equipped with towering mountains, pristine beaches and vast swathes of Amazon rainforest, the country also boasts a particularly underrated ecotourism destination in the form of Los Llanos.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Over a million species face extinction, ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest are tipping into collapse, and climate change is playing an increasingly influential role in the decline of biodiversity.
—Paige Vega, Vox, 21 Jan. 2025
From the flamboyant blossoms and birds of rainforests to the living rainbows of coral reefs, Earth’s surface is teeming with life.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2025
Photos show a few of these stone ruins, partially overgrown by the rainforest.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
This behavior is similar to what is seen in ants who are infected by fungi from the genus Ophiocordyceps in the Brazilian rainforest.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025
As a whole, the island boasts soaring mountain ranges, the third-largest rainforest worldwide, and pristine beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 29 Jan. 2025
Dictionary Entries Near rainforest
Cite this Entry
“Rainforest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainforest. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share