torrential

adjective

tor·​ren·​tial tȯ-ˈren(t)-shəl 

tə-

1

a

: relating to or having the character of a torrent

torrential rains

b

: caused by or resulting from action of rapid streams

torrential gravel

2

: resembling a torrent in violence or rapidity of flow

torrentially

tȯ-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē

tə- 

adverb

Examples of torrential in a Sentence

The rain caused torrential flooding.

Recent Examples on the Web

The storm brought torrential rainfall, historic flooding and destructive winds that damaged thousands of homes, overwhelmed local infrastructure, and left large portions of the state without power for days. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025

As of Saturday evening, Memphis, Tennessee, remained under a flash flood emergency as the latest round of torrential rain continues to sweep east across parts of the mid-South Saturday afternoon. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2025

But first, the storm will dump several feet of snow along the Sierra Nevada and bring torrential rain to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025

The worst of the severe thunderstorm, tornado, flash flood threat will be through the evening hours as a line of strong thunderstorms with torrential rain continues to sweep across parts of the South. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

torrent entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for torrential

• credential
• prudential
• sequential
• tangential
• circumferential
• inconsequential
• consequential
• deferential
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential

Kids Definition

torrential

adjective

tor·​ren·​tial tȯ-ˈren-chəl 

tə-

: relating to or resembling a torrent

torrential rains

torrentially

-ˈrench-(ə-)lē 

adverb