torrent

American  

[tawr-uhnt, tor-] / ˈtɔr ənt, ˈtɒr- /

noun

1. a stream of water flowing with great rapidity and violence.

2. a rushing, violent, or abundant and unceasing stream of anything.

   a torrent of lava.

3. a violent downpour of rain.

4. a violent, tumultuous, or overwhelming flow.

   a torrent of abuse.

   Synonyms:

   spate, flood, deluge, outburst

---

adjective

1. torrential.

torrent British  

/ ˈtɒrənt /

noun

1. a fast, voluminous, or violent stream of water or other liquid

2. an overwhelming flow of thoughts, words, sound, etc

3. computing a file that controls the transfer of data in a BitTorrent system See BitTorrent

---

adjective

1. rare like or relating to a torrent

Etymology

Origin of torrent

1595–1605; < Latin torrent- (stem of torrēns ) seething, literally, burning, present participle of torrēre to burn, parch; 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.

Example Sentences

So, to torrent over NordVPN, you should pick one of those.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

And out rushes a blazingly cathartic torrent of honesty and horror.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

The new restrictions set off a torrent of protests throughout the country, which became the largest mass demonstrations in Poland since the 1989 anti-communist movement.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

The oldest millennials—the nation’s biggest generation—are entering their mid-40s and devouring a torrent of new supplements, lotions, pills, gels, books and podcasts devoted to menopause relief.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

As I fled, I saw my father, his arms held wide to block Edmund while he declared in a torrent of words that he was doing the king's bidding.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• cascade
• deluge
• downpour
• flood
• outburst
• spate
• stream
• tide
• waterfall