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 bomb cyclone in the Northeast is dropping torrential rain in at least 11 states on Wednesday. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

The roads in and out of the capital are controlled by armed gangs, and days of torrential rain last week also buried two major roads connecting Cap-Haïtien and the capital under mudslides. —Jacqueline Charles Miami Herald (tns), arkansasonline.com, 9 Dec. 2024

The Indian monsoon failed, followed by late, torrential rains that triggered widespread flooding in the Ganges basin. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Days before Rafael's landfall, tens of thousands of people evacuated the eastern province of Guantanamo after a series of storms produced torrential downpours and triggered flooding. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 7 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

torrent entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

torrential

adjective

tor·​ren·​tial tȯ-ˈren-chəl 

tə-

: relating to or resembling a torrent

torrential rains

torrentially

-ˈrench-(ə-)lē 

adverb