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

Another of a dead woman on the ground, blood running like rainwater where the street meets the curb—a hell of a lot of blood for one person. —Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2024

Surface water flooding is especially dangerous for cities with a high proportion of impervious soil coverage and hard surfaces—such as roads and parking lots—that prevent rainwater from being absorbed, increasing the likelihood and impact of flooding. —Natalie Donback, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024

That tells me years of rainwater had infiltrated behind the fiber cement siding. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 7 Dec. 2024

Slumping or tilting trees or fence posts and small ponds of rainwater forming where water has not collected before can be warning signs, according to the USGS. —George Petras, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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