precipitation

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsi-pə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the quality or state of being precipitate : hastiness

2

: an act, process, or instance of precipitating

especially : the process of forming a precipitate

3

: something precipitated: such as

a

: a deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow

also : the quantity of water deposited

b

: precipitate sense 1

Synonyms

• haste
• hastiness
• hurry
• hustle
• precipitousness
• rush

Examples of precipitation in a Sentence

The weather forecast calls for some sort of frozen precipitation tomorrow—either snow or sleet.

a 50 percent chance of precipitation

Minerals are separated from the seawater by precipitation.

Recent Examples on the Web

The showers and thunderstorms are possible mostly after 1 p.m. Wednesday’s high is expected to be around 61, and the chance of precipitation is 100%. —Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2025

Showers are likely on Sunday, with a 70% chance of precipitation during the day and 50% overnight into Monday, the weather service said. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2025

While the chance of rain has decreased, there’s still a 30-40% chance of precipitation. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2025

San Diego is in the midst of the driest water year since record-keeping began in 1850, with the city’s airport recording only 1.27 inches of precipitation from Oct. 1 to Feb. 24. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1502, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing precipitation

• acid precipitation

Rhymes for precipitation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

precipitation

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: unwise haste

2

: the process of precipitating or of forming a precipitate

3

: water or the amount of water that falls to the earth as hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow

Medical Definition

precipitation

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: the process of forming a precipitate from a solution

b

: the process of precipitating or removing solid or liquid particles from a smoke or gas by electrical means

2

: precipitate