torrent
Americannoun
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a fast, voluminous, or violent stream of water or other liquid
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an overwhelming flow of thoughts, words, sound, etc
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computing a file that controls the transfer of data in a BitTorrent system See BitTorrent
adjective
Etymology
Origin of torrent
1595–1605; < Latin torrent- (stem of torrēns ) seething, literally, burning, present participle of torrēre to burn, parch; see torrid, -ent
Explanation
A torrent is a heavy rain, or the flooding or wildly-running streams it causes, like the torrent that soaks everyone unlucky enough to be out on the street at that moment. Because the noun torrent literally means "rushing stream," it often describes fast-flowing water, like a rainstorm or creeks and rivers that overflow their banks. But the word can also describe any sudden inundation, like a deluge of words or thoughts, like when, in anger, you unleash a torrent of emotional words on your friend. Like a violent storm, you pour those words, not letting up in order to let him or her explain the other side of the story.
Vocabulary lists containing torrent
A Long Walk to Water
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List 5
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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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.
Ulzheimer isn’t expecting a torrent of new mortgage applications as a result of the credit-scoring changes.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026
A torrent of money is pouring into AI startups.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
In other words, we should probably prepare, once again, for one of the hottest summers of our lives, with a torrent of unpredictable storms and disasters to follow.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
In short, carefully packaged and shiny this is not: at best it is a distraction for ministers, at worst a gushing torrent of awkwardness and embarrassment - and it is far from over yet.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
He was pulled along like a twig in a torrent.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
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.
