rain

American  

[reyn] / reɪn /

noun

1. water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeters) in diameter.

2. a rainfall, rainstorm, or shower.

   We had a light rain this afternoon.

3. rains, the rainy season; seasonal rainfall, as in India.

4. weather marked by steady or frequent rainfall.

   We had rain most of last summer.

5. a heavy and continuous descent or inflicting of anything.

   a rain of blows; a rain of vituperation.

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verb (used without object)

rains, present (3rd person singular) rained, past participle, past raining present participle

1. (of rain) to fall (usually used impersonally with it as subject).

   It rained all night.

2. to fall like rain.

   Tears rained from their eyes.

3. to send down rain.

   The lightning flashed and the sky rained on us in torrents.

verb (used with object)

rains, present (3rd person singular) rained, past participle, past raining present participle

1. to send down in great quantities, as small pieces or objects.

   People on rooftops rained confetti on the parade.

2. to offer, bestow, or give in great quantity.

   to rain favors upon a person.

   Synonyms:

   pour, shower, lavish

3. to deal, hurl, fire, etc., repeatedly.

   to rain blows on someone's head.

verb phrase

1. rain out to cause, by raining, the cancellation or postponement of a sports event, performance, or the like.

   The double-header was rained out yesterday.

idioms

1. rain cats and dogs, to rain very heavily or steadily.

   We canceled our picnic because it rained cats and dogs.

rain British  

/ reɪn /

noun

1. 1. precipitation from clouds in the form of drops of water, formed by the condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere

   2. a fall of rain; shower

   3. ( in combination )

      a raindrop

2. a large quantity of anything falling rapidly or in quick succession

   a rain of abuse

3. 1. regardless of the weather

   2. regardless of circumstances

4. informal perfectly all right; perfectly fit

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verb

1. (intr; with it as subject) to be the case that rain is falling

2. to fall or cause to fall like rain

   the lid flew off and popcorn rained on everyone

3. (tr) to bestow in large measure

   to rain abuse on someone

4. informal to rain heavily; pour

5. cancelled or postponed on account of rain

rain Scientific  

/ rān /

1. Water that condenses from water vapor in the atmosphere and falls to Earth as separate drops from clouds. Rain forms primarily in three ways: at weather fronts, when the water vapor in the warmer mass of air cools and condenses; along mountain ranges, when a warm mass of air is forced to rise over a mountain and its water vapor cools and condenses; and by convection in hot climates, when the water vapor in suddenly rising masses of warm air cools and condenses.

2. See also hydrologic cycle

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rain More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing rain

• come in out of the rain
• it never rains but it pours
• right as rain

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rainless
  adjective
• rainlessness
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has rained
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have rained
  perfect
• have been raining
  perfect progressive
• am raining
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been raining
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• rains
  singular 3rd person
• raining
  participle
• is raining
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are raining
  progressive

Past

• had rained
  perfect
• were raining
  progressive plural
• had been raining
  perfect progressive
• was raining
  progressive singular
• rained
  participle
• rained
  simple

Future

• will rain
  simple
• will have rained
  perfect
• will have been raining
  perfect progressive
• will be raining
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of rain

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English rein; Old English regn, rēn, cognate with Dutch, German regen, Old Norse regn, Gothic rign; (verb) Middle English reinen, Old English regnian

Explanation

Rain is what makes you go running for your umbrella. It's that water that comes down from sky when the dark clouds roll in. You can also use rain as a verb — as in the expression "Don't rain on my parade," which means don't ruin my good time by giving me bad news. You can also describe anything that comes down quickly and in quantity as something that rains down. On New Year's Eve, confetti rains down in Times Square. If you're unfortunate enough to find yourself in a war zone, you might hear bombs raining down around you.

Example Sentences

Alexander Zverev and Mirra Andreeva claimed their first Grand Slam titles in Paris at a Roland-Garros marked by extreme heat, pouring rain, and shocking upsets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

The ensuing late-season storm brought snow and rain, significantly reducing the chances Coughran could have survived.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

The interview was interrupted several times by weather and audio issues as torrential rain pounded the roof, making it difficult to continue the conversation.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

"The least they could do is plan for the rain that they knew was coming four days ago."

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

In the distance, thick clouds, their undersides an angry shade of dark, are swallowing up the blue sky, and the breeze carries the humid scent of the coming rain.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• deluge
• drizzle
• flood
• hail
• mist
• monsoon
• precipitation
• rainfall
• rainstorm
• shower
• showers
• sleet
• stream
• torrent