1
: the amount of precipitation usually measured by the depth in inches
2
Synonyms
Examples of rainfall in a Sentence
This area has an average annual rainfall of 12 inches.
an increase in annual rainfall
Recent Examples on the Web
Similar conditions were apparent in Los Angeles County over the past year, where mounds of vegetation had dried and died after Southern California received less than 5% of its typical rainfall from October to the beginning of 2025.
—
Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that additional storms are expected later this week, with the possibility of more rainfall Thursday.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
However, exacerbated by intensifying bursts of rainfall due to climate change, the gradual movement of the landslides has drastically accelerated in recent years.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
The Weather Prediction Center has maintained a Slight Risk (level 2 of 4) of excessive rainfall across the region to account for this, the weather service said.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rainfall 
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Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that additional storms are expected later this week, with the possibility of more rainfall Thursday.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
However, exacerbated by intensifying bursts of rainfall due to climate change, the gradual movement of the landslides has drastically accelerated in recent years.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
The Weather Prediction Center has maintained a Slight Risk (level 2 of 4) of excessive rainfall across the region to account for this, the weather service said.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rainfall
Articles Related to rainfall
Dictionary Entries Near rainfall
Cite this Entry
“Rainfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainfall. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rainfall
noun
rain·fall
-ˌfȯl 
1
: a fall of rain
2
: amount of precipitation
an annual rainfall of 20 inches
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