torrential

[taw-ren-shuh l, toh-, tuh-]

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adjective

pertaining to or having the nature of a torrent.
resembling a torrent in rapidity or violence.
falling in torrents: torrential rains.

produced by the action of a torrent.
violent, vehement, or impassioned.
overwhelming; extraordinarily copious.

Origin of torrential

First recorded in 1840–50; torrent + -ial

Related formstor·ren·tial·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for torrential

Contemporary Examples

But the jokes flow at such a torrential pace that duds are soon forgotten; the best are even Spamalot-worthy.
‘Galavant’: A Drunken, Horny Musical Fairy Tale
Melissa Leon
January 5, 2015
Sheets of torrential rains pouring down over the Land Rover sent its four wheels plunging into the mud.
The Original Ebola Hunter
Abby Haglage
September 14, 2014
Recent turnout has been massive, with over 150,000 people gathering for the ceremony even when there were torrential downpours.
The Tiananmen Square Museum That’s Shocking China’s Tourists
Brendon Hong
May 30, 2014
I spent today in the Johannesburg Stadium, among 70,000 people who attended despite the torrential rain.
Rowdy Crowds At Mandela’s Memorial
Mark Gevisser
December 10, 2013
After a long spell of torrential rain, there's been catastrophic flooding this month in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand.
The Pointlessness of Some Disaster Charity After the Indian Floods
Dilip D’Souza
June 26, 2013

Historical Examples

From this cloud, fell a torrential rain, in which were hundreds of mussels.
The Book of the Damned
Charles Fort
They rode off in a hailstorm that gradually became a torrential rain.
When the Owl Cries
Paul Bartlett
There will be floods again if the rain continues so torrential.
A Journal from Japan
Marie Carmichael Stopes
He whirls his readers off their feet by the torrential flow of his argument.
Egoists
James Huneker
When they are all, as it were, turned on together, the effect is torrential!
An American Girl in Munich
Mabel W. Daniels

British Dictionary definitions for torrential

torrential

adjective

of or relating to a torrent
pouring or flowing fast, violently, or heavilytorrential rain
abundant, overwhelming, or irrepressibletorrential abuse

Derived Formstorrentially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for torrential

adj.

1849; see torrent + -al (1).

torrential

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}torrential

Examples from the Web for torrential

Contemporary Examples

But the jokes flow at such a torrential pace that duds are soon forgotten; the best are even Spamalot-worthy.

Sheets of torrential rains pouring down over the Land Rover sent its four wheels plunging into the mud.

Recent turnout has been massive, with over 150,000 people gathering for the ceremony even when there were torrential downpours.

I spent today in the Johannesburg Stadium, among 70,000 people who attended despite the torrential rain.

After a long spell of torrential rain, there's been catastrophic flooding this month in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand.

Historical Examples

From this cloud, fell a torrential rain, in which were hundreds of mussels.

They rode off in a hailstorm that gradually became a torrential rain.

There will be floods again if the rain continues so torrential.

He whirls his readers off their feet by the torrential flow of his argument.

When they are all, as it were, turned on together, the effect is torrential!

torrential

Word Origin and History for torrential

adj.

Origin of torrential