rain gauge

noun

: an instrument for measuring the quantity of precipitation

Examples of rain gauge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
At that point, more than 9 inches of rain had fallen at one rain gauge in less than five hours. — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025 The family plans to start using their rain gauge this summer. — Laura Martin Agudelo, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 To track rain intake, use a rain gauge and note the rainfall amounts in your garden journal. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026 Get a rain gauge and supplement irrigation as spring rains slow over the summer months. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rain gauge

Word History

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rain gauge was in 1769

Rhymes for rain gauge

See All Rhymes for rain gauge

Browse Nearby Words

rainful
rain gauge
rain glass
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rain gauge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rain%20gauge. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

rain gauge

noun
: an instrument for measuring rainfall

More from Merriam-Webster on rain gauge

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rain gauge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All