rainwater

noun

rain·​wa·​ter ˈrān-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce rainwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
: water fallen as rain that has not collected soluble matter from the soil and is therefore soft

Examples of rainwater in a Sentence

a bucket filled with rainwater
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Slumping or tilting trees or fence posts and small ponds of rainwater forming where water has not collected before can be warning signs, according to the USGS. Lori Comstock, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024 Other participants include chemical engineer Damien Lopez, who studied the presence of lead in the runoff of rainwater, and Giraud, who is baritone and conducts a Norman choir in his free time. Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 9 Dec. 2024 The tops of the boxes are slanted so rainwater flows away from ballots. Eric Levenson, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024 Benjamin Franklin warned in 1786 about the perils of drinking rainwater that had trickled off a lead roof. Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rainwater 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainwater was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near rainwater

rainwash

rainwater

Rainwater

Cite this Entry

“Rainwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainwater. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

rainwater

noun
rain·​wa·​ter -ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce rainwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: water falling or fallen as rain

Biographical Definition

Rainwater

biographical name

Rain·​wa·​ter ˈrān-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce Rainwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
L(eo) James 1917–1986 American physicist

More from Merriam-Webster on rainwater

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