rain
noun
water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeters) in diameter.
were raining
-
past progressiveof rain.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“By 9 p.m., there was nothing we could do. Embers were raining down everywhere and everything that could burn was burning,” the employee added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2025
Instead it was Pegula's powerful shots that were raining on the court and Tsurenko could simply not deal with what kept coming her way.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2023
A record 10 consecutive overtime wins later, Roy was hoisting his second Stanley Cup, and fans who had mocked his billboard ad were raining thunderous applause upon “Saint Patrick” from the stands.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 4, 2023
The morning was drenched with dew and the trees were dripping with it so that it sounded as if it were raining, although the sky was bright blue.
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 17, 2019
It sounds both beautiful and strange, as though gemstones were raining from the sky.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
