as in rains
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
the downpour was so heavy that we were soaked by the time we got to the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 downpours
After that, the majority of the downpours will rotate north of our area.
—
Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
According to the study, the United States west of the Mississippi River experienced some of the world's highest levels of rain consolidation, with yearly rainfall for the Rocky Mountains becoming 20% more compacted into heavier downpours.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Houston rain chances are lower Thursday, but a slow-moving storm system could bring a risk of heavy downpours later this weekend.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
Damaging winds and heavy downpours also affected the area, including in Tampa and Largo.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The all-day downpours will carry into Monday and Tuesday.
—Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Heavy downpours could be seen along central Florida and its Gulf Coast on Saturday, including in Tampa and Largo.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 3 May 2026
The dude has been knocked down by waves, face-planted while calling challenges, and conducted Tribal Council in both downpours and insufferable heat.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
AccuWeather said storms Tuesday night could target parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa with significant and damaging hail, thunderstorms, torrential downpours and strong wind gusts.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
According to the study, the United States west of the Mississippi River experienced some of the world's highest levels of rain consolidation, with yearly rainfall for the Rocky Mountains becoming 20% more compacted into heavier downpours.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Houston rain chances are lower Thursday, but a slow-moving storm system could bring a risk of heavy downpours later this weekend.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
Damaging winds and heavy downpours also affected the area, including in Tampa and Largo.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The all-day downpours will carry into Monday and Tuesday.
—Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Heavy downpours could be seen along central Florida and its Gulf Coast on Saturday, including in Tampa and Largo.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 3 May 2026
The dude has been knocked down by waves, face-planted while calling challenges, and conducted Tribal Council in both downpours and insufferable heat.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
AccuWeather said storms Tuesday night could target parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa with significant and damaging hail, thunderstorms, torrential downpours and strong wind gusts.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downpours
Noun
-
Due to heavy rains and high water levels in the Fox River in late April, the Fox Valley Park District postponed the event, set for April 25 in order to celebrate Earth Day, to May 16.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
Later that summer, lingering moisture from Tropical Storm Mario contributed to flooding rains across portions of the southwestern United States on September 17-18, the hurricane center concluded in its post-storm report.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Lake Baikal, often described as an inland sea because of its enormous size, is notorious for sudden storms and icy conditions even during tourist season, according to National Geographic.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
The storms packed powerful winds, with parts of Leavenworth County reporting gusts up to 92 mph, according to storm reports submitted to the National Weather Service.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downpours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downpours. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
