precipitation
noun
pre·cip·i·ta·tion
pri-ˌsi-pə-ˈtā-shən 
1
: the quality or state of being precipitate : hastiness
2
: an act, process, or instance of precipitating
especially
: the process of forming a precipitate
3
: something precipitated: such as
a
: a deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow
also
: the quantity of water deposited
Examples of precipitation in a Sentence
The weather forecast calls for some sort of frozen precipitation tomorrow—either snow or sleet.
a 50 percent chance of precipitation
Minerals are separated from the seawater by precipitation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rain Enhancement Technologies points to results from projects elsewhere, but there is not yet enough local data to determine how much additional precipitation the Weld County system has produced.
—
Joe Ruch, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Up to 20 inches of rain in some spots are is predicted, with 5 to 10 inches of heavy precipitation across swaths of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and even the far western reached of the Florida Panhandle.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026
According to forecasts, there is a 24% chance of precipitation on Wednesday night and a 73% chance on Thursday.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Chance of precipitation is 50%.
—Aaron Valdez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for precipitation
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Joe Ruch, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Up to 20 inches of rain in some spots are is predicted, with 5 to 10 inches of heavy precipitation across swaths of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and even the far western reached of the Florida Panhandle.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026
According to forecasts, there is a 24% chance of precipitation on Wednesday night and a 73% chance on Thursday.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Chance of precipitation is 50%.
—Aaron Valdez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for precipitation
Cite this Entry
“Precipitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitation. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precipitation
noun
pre·cip·i·ta·tion
pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən
1
: unwise haste
2
: the process of precipitating or of forming a precipitate
3
: water or the amount of water that falls to the earth as hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow
Medical Definition
precipitation
noun
pre·cip·i·ta·tion
pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən
1
a
: the process of forming a precipitate from a solution
b
: the process of precipitating or removing solid or liquid particles from a smoke or gas by electrical means
2
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