rainfall

American  

[reyn-fawl] / ˈreɪnˌfɔl /

noun

1. a fall or shower of rain.

2. the amount of water falling in rain, snow, etc., within a given time and area, usually expressed as a hypothetical depth of coverage.

   a rainfall of 70 inches a year.

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rainfall British  

/ ˈreɪnˌfɔːl /

noun

1. precipitation in the form of raindrops

2. meteorol the amount of precipitation in a specified place and time

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rainfall Scientific  

/ rān′fôl′ /

1. The quantity of water, usually expressed in millimeters or inches, that is precipitated in liquid form in a specified area and time interval. Rainfall is often considered to include solid precipitation such as snow, hail, and sleet as well.

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Etymology

Origin of rainfall

First recorded in 1840–50; rain + fall

Example Sentences

According to the World Health Organization, climate change -- through increased rainfall, temperatures and humidity -- can in some cases accelerate malaria transmission by enabling mosquitoes to breed faster.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Apart from a moraine collapsing, an avalanche or an unusual amount of rainfall can destabilize a lake.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Ageing infrastructure coupled with increased populations and more intense rainfall events due to climate change have pushed the system to its limit.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Saturated ground and damaged infrastructure mean even moderate rainfall could trigger new flooding or landslides in the days ahead.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

But it was maintained that rainfall alone could not explain the size of the rivers or the existence of springs emerging from underground; springs were fed directly, it was argued, from the ocean.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• moisture
• rain
• shower