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Synonyms

rainy day

American  

noun

  1. a time of need or emergency.

    saving money for a rainy day.
rainy day British  

noun

  1. a future time of need, esp financial

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of rainy day

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rainy day funds, Paycheck Protection Program loans, rent deferrals and fervent community support — particularly during the holidays — helped immensely.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2021

Rainy day essentials: A cute umbrella — the brighter the better, warm gloves and a hat.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2017

Rainy day essentials: Scarf, booties, jeans and a leather jacket or parka.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2017

Rainy day funds are certainly useful in a pinch, but when overburdened taxpayers see money laying around for an unspecified future emergency, a cash reserve might be regarded as an expensive luxury.

From Washington Times • Jan. 18, 2016

"Fine morning," "Rainy day," And, "What's the match?" are preludes to the play.

From Poems on Golf by Society, Edinburgh Burgess Golfing

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.