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 next round of precipitation will return late Sunday into Monday. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 31 Dec. 2024

There is a 40% chance of precipitation, likely snow, after 1 p.m., followed by partly cloudy conditions and a low around 27 overnight. —Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 31 Dec. 2024

Some rain was forecast later in the week, but it is mostly expected to be confined to the North Bay; Murdock said there might be a drizzle of rain from Wednesday into Thursday but about half an inch of precipitation could fall over the same area on Friday and Saturday. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024

Sky Harbor International Airport recorded only trace amounts — an amount of precipitation so small it cannot be accurately measured — through the entirety of the fall season. —Hayleigh Evans, Arizona Republic, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1502, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing precipitation

• acid precipitation

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