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
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Recent Examples of rains
Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
Dangerous winds are but one piece of a wild weather mosaic that includes heavy rains in Hawaii, triple-digit heat ahead in Phoenix and the return of winter cold to the Midwest and Northeast.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Fifth, since flowering occurs so early, blossoms can be knocked off or contaminated by fungus due to late winter rains or killed by a late frost when the trees are already in bloom.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, larger fuel sources like dense vegetation remain moist from heavy winter rains, and winds are predicted to be relatively light, conditions that together limit the danger of fast-spreading wildfires.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Sewer systems, especially those that handle a combination of wastewater and stormwater, often overflow during heavy rains.
—Jeff Brady, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
Wastewater would travel from there through a creek that passes under a small bridge not far from the Hurlbuts’ home, and Roger Hurlbut worries about the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
Winter rains have been a bit above average, arriving in big storms with long dry periods and Santa Ana winds in between.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Some of the storms have the potential to be strong, mainly in far northwest Missouri, with gusty winds, heavy rains and isolated large hail possible, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
That and the fact it never rains.
—Lauren Bans, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
This dust accumulates in the corners, lurks under the sofa, and rains down on your lampshades.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
From his pulpit, Wicks rains down selectively vituperative fire and brimstone, with an eye toward provoking walkouts from unsuspecting visitors—say, a gay couple or a single mom.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
The dust is microscopic asteroid and comet debris that constantly rains in space, eventually making its way to Earth.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
Dangerous winds were but one piece of a wild weather mosaic that included heavy rains in Hawaii, triple-digit heat ahead in Phoenix and the return of winter cold to the Midwest and Northeast.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
Dangerous winds are but one piece of a wild weather mosaic that includes heavy rains in Hawaii, triple-digit heat ahead in Phoenix and the return of winter cold to the Midwest and Northeast.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Fifth, since flowering occurs so early, blossoms can be knocked off or contaminated by fungus due to late winter rains or killed by a late frost when the trees are already in bloom.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, larger fuel sources like dense vegetation remain moist from heavy winter rains, and winds are predicted to be relatively light, conditions that together limit the danger of fast-spreading wildfires.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Sewer systems, especially those that handle a combination of wastewater and stormwater, often overflow during heavy rains.
—Jeff Brady, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
Wastewater would travel from there through a creek that passes under a small bridge not far from the Hurlbuts’ home, and Roger Hurlbut worries about the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
Winter rains have been a bit above average, arriving in big storms with long dry periods and Santa Ana winds in between.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Some of the storms have the potential to be strong, mainly in far northwest Missouri, with gusty winds, heavy rains and isolated large hail possible, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Time seems to collapse in on itself when bombs keep dropping overhead, and the act of trying to visit a next-door neighbor becomes a matter of life or death as sniper fire rains down.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
That and the fact it never rains.
—Lauren Bans, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
This dust accumulates in the corners, lurks under the sofa, and rains down on your lampshades.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
From his pulpit, Wicks rains down selectively vituperative fire and brimstone, with an eye toward provoking walkouts from unsuspecting visitors—say, a gay couple or a single mom.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
The dust is microscopic asteroid and comet debris that constantly rains in space, eventually making its way to Earth.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
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 most powerful storms tend to come in the later part of the season.—
David Goodhue
March 16,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The disruptions follow a chaotic Monday for air travel, triggered by powerful storms that dumped snow by the foot in the Midwest and swept through the eastern half of the country, leading to thousands of cancellations at major hubs, including in New York, Chicago and Atlanta.—
Emilie Megnien,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Iranian missiles and drones have struck multiple sites in Qatar, with at least 16 people injured in earlier barrages, according to officials.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But Hezbollah has still been able to fire back, launching hundreds of rockets and drones into Israel, often coinciding with barrages of Iranian ballistic missiles.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Action begins with a tight shot on a glass resting on a bar, then a waiter pours some tequila over the ice in the glass.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Becoming a parent can be a bit overwhelming, especially when advice pours in from all sides.—
David Sparrow,
Parents,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Not the money that showers dancers on the stage, but the corporate dollars that might have gone away if the NBA was OK with being publicly associated with a strip club.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Plan on some morning snow showers around the Philadelphia region for your drive in to work, school or the gym on Wednesday.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
-
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 all their leaves and were just bare trunks and branches.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Their extended range enables comprehensive mapping of vast territories, tracking snow levels to predict floods or hydroelectric output, and keeping a watchful eye on natural hazards such as landslides and avalanches.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Critics have said that the policy that all spending over $100,000 had to be personally approved by Noem delayed FEMA response during disasters, including during the central Texas floods in 2025.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The introduction of Allen Klein [the notorious business manager whom Lennon advocated to take over the Beatles' affairs] precipitates the band’s crumbling.—
Joe Hagan,
Vanity Fair,
26 Feb. 2026
-
But what precipitates an AI winter is some definitive evidence this hype cannot be met.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When Ray lavishes attention on another biker’s pet pillion, Kevin (Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters), Colin sulks until his master unzips his trousers and gives him a treat.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Majumdar lavishes her characters with careful attention, and so the reader comes to regard their most troubling actions as justified, if not inevitable.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rains. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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