1
as in storms
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
the rain continued for most of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barrages
a heavy fall of objects
the Norman invaders fled when the castle's defenders threw a rain of stones down upon them
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pours
to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds
it started raining early this morning and hasn't let up since
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in showers
to give readily and in large quantities
she rained praise upon her graduating students the squadron rained bombs on the enemy's fortifications
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of rains
Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Timely rains in 2024 fell prior to the survey being conducted, which contributed to the elevated pond counts last year.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
As the weather cools and autumn rains break the late summer dry spell, gardeners can once again start planting in the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Between September and November, the weather leans sunnier, the rains lighten, and the crowds have yet to arrive in force.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
The front yard had a history of flooding during hard rains when the water from the backyard would go down the drains and under the walkway.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
But that leadership and seriousness are balanced within a personality that’s critical to maintaining his team’s sanity as criticism rains.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The heavy rains will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep terrain, especially in and around these areas.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Mearns quail, also called Montezuma quail, live in the foothills of southern Arizona’s Sky Island ranges and rely more on summer monsoon rains.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Now, in preparation for a ground invasion, Israel rains yet more American bombs on Gaza City—another round of mindless, brutal violence against a population that has endured it every day for almost two years.
—Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
It is hurt, evident by the acid blood that rains down, but the Xenomorph is not dead.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Other states affected by heavy rains include Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir in the north of the country and Telangana in the south.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Timely rains in 2024 fell prior to the survey being conducted, which contributed to the elevated pond counts last year.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
As the weather cools and autumn rains break the late summer dry spell, gardeners can once again start planting in the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Between September and November, the weather leans sunnier, the rains lighten, and the crowds have yet to arrive in force.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
The front yard had a history of flooding during hard rains when the water from the backyard would go down the drains and under the walkway.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
But that leadership and seriousness are balanced within a personality that’s critical to maintaining his team’s sanity as criticism rains.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The heavy rains will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep terrain, especially in and around these areas.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Mearns quail, also called Montezuma quail, live in the foothills of southern Arizona’s Sky Island ranges and rely more on summer monsoon rains.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Sulfuric acid rains down through the sickly yellow sky but never reaches the lava-licked ground.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Now, in preparation for a ground invasion, Israel rains yet more American bombs on Gaza City—another round of mindless, brutal violence against a population that has endured it every day for almost two years.
—Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
It is hurt, evident by the acid blood that rains down, but the Xenomorph is not dead.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rains
Noun
-
The typical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season has come and gone – and storms are still hard to come by, with only six reported so far this year.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Nevertheless, meteorologists are urging people to remain alert, as sea temperatures remain high and storms can still form well into October and even November.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The hills surrounding Verdun were literally reduced in height from the ferocity of the artillery barrages leveled against their slopes.—
Michael Jerome Plunkett
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
-
At the end of last month, Trump finally got round to including Seth Meyers in his social media barrages against the comedians that regularly mock him.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Their pub has 16 beers on draft as well as pizza and a sit down restaurant while their tasting room and shop has beer to go, beer pours and merchandise.—
Em Sauter,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Essential safety tips for heavy rain When heavy rain pours, the risk of flooding and treacherous roads rises.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
During years of drought, when the water level dropped, trees grew in the lake bed, but when water returned following heavy rainfalls, the trees lost their leaves and were just bare trunks and branches.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The wave, located about 150 miles south of the southern coast of Guatemala, is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, according to hurricane center forecasters.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
There’s only a small chance for showers or storms, and any rain will be mainly limited to areas southwest of a line from Olathe to Butler, the weather service said in its forecast discussion.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bright sunlight floods the sensors with background noise, surface reflections distort the signal, and long-distance measurements require higher stability than short-range indoor use.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Rainwater floods their tents and officers go cell-to-cell pressuring detainees to sign voluntary removal orders before they’re allowed to consult their attorneys.—
Kate Payne,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Summer also brings on rainstorms with lightning and flash flooding.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Scientists across the globe agree that nations need to rapidly embrace renewable energy to stave off the worst effects of climate change, including extreme heat and drought; larger, more intense wildfires and supercharged hurricanes, typhoons and rainstorms that lead to catastrophic flooding.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains.—
AZCentral.com,
AZCentral.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The valley floor hums with cowbells and the distant whir of paragliders circling above alpine meadows—as Trümmelbach’s glacial torrents roar through limestone caverns.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rains. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share