1
: the amount of precipitation usually measured by the depth in inches
2
Examples of rainfall in a Sentence
This area has an average annual rainfall of 12 inches.
an increase in annual rainfall
Recent Examples on the Web
Meteorologists say the area could see heavy rainfall, wind gusts of up to 70 mph and hail up to two inches in diameter.
—
Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
Fire season tends to wind down when the state gets enough heavy rainfall to dampen possible fuels such as grass, leaves, pine needles, ferns and tree moss, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
After the Biden administration declared the 2023-2024 winter storms a federal disaster, the city applied to FEMA for over $60 million in disaster reimbursements, linking its landslide mitigation work to the heavy rainfall.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
There is a slight risk of severe storms on Monday, with the main concerns being large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall, which could lead to flooding, the weather service said.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
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Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
Fire season tends to wind down when the state gets enough heavy rainfall to dampen possible fuels such as grass, leaves, pine needles, ferns and tree moss, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
After the Biden administration declared the 2023-2024 winter storms a federal disaster, the city applied to FEMA for over $60 million in disaster reimbursements, linking its landslide mitigation work to the heavy rainfall.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
There is a slight risk of severe storms on Monday, with the main concerns being large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall, which could lead to flooding, the weather service said.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rainfall
Cite this Entry
“Rainfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainfall. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rainfall
noun
rain·fall
-ˌfȯl 
1
: a fall of rain
2
: amount of precipitation
an annual rainfall of 20 inches
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