What does "rain" mean?
Condensed water falling from a cloud.
Rain
/ɹeɪn/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Condensed water falling from a cloud.
- Grammar: rain is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: rainfall, abound, accord, administer.
- Useful contrasts: drought, dry, dry spell.
- Usage evidence: I was planning on going to the beach today, but then it started to rain.
How to use "rain"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rain" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rain" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rain" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rain" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rain" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "rainfall" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rain", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Condensed water falling from a cloud. uncountable, usually
"We've been having a lot of rain lately."
- 2 anything happening rapidly or in quick successive wordnet
- 3 Any matter moving or falling, usually through air, and especially if liquid or otherwise figuratively identifiable with raindrops. figuratively, uncountable, usually
- 4 water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere wordnet
- 5 An instance of particles or larger pieces of matter moving or falling through air. figuratively, uncountable, usually
"A rain of mortar fire fell on our trenches."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation from clouds wordnet
Verb
- 1 To have rain fall from the sky. impersonal
"Judging by the black cloud, it will rain later today."
- 2 Obsolete form of reign. alt-of, obsolete
"Such wondrous science in mans witt to rain."
- 3 precipitate as rain wordnet
- 4 To fall as or like rain. figuratively, intransitive
"Tears rained from her eyes."
- 5 To issue (something) in large quantities. figuratively, transitive
"The boxer rained punches on his opponent's head."
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name.
Example
"I was planning on going to the beach today, but then it started to rain."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rain"?
Common synonyms include: rainfall, abound, accord, administer, afford, agua.
How do you use "rain" in a sentence?
I was planning on going to the beach today, but then it started to rain.
How do you pronounce "rain"?
Pronounced /ɹeɪn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English reyn, rein, from Old English reġn, from Proto-West Germanic *regn, from Proto-Germanic *regną, of uncertain origin. Possibly from pre-Germanic *Hréǵ-no-, from Proto-Indo-European *Hreǵ- (“to flow”), although the consonant reflexes don't match. Cognates Cognate with Yola rhyne, ryne (“rain”), North Frisian Riin, rin (“rain”), Saterland Frisian Rien (“rain”), West Frisian rein (“rain”), Dutch regen (“rain”), Limburgish raenger, Rään (“rain”), German Low German Regen, Ręgen, Rägen (“rain”), Luxembourgish Reen (“rain”), German Regen (“rain”), Mòcheno reng (“rain”), Vilamovian raan (“rain”), Alemannic German regu, räge, rägä (“rain”), Bavarian Regn, rein (“rain”), Cimbrian regan, réego, reng (“rain”), Yiddish רעגן (regn, “rain”), Danish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish regn (“rain”), Crimean Gothic reghen (“rain”), Gothic 𐍂𐌹𐌲𐌽 (rign, “rain”).
Etymology 2
From Middle English reinen, from Old English reġnian, from Proto-West Germanic *regnōn, from Proto-Germanic *regnōną, from *regną (“rain”), as above. Cognates Cognate with Cimbrian règhenan, rengen (“to rain”), Dutch regenen (“to rain”), German regnen (“to rain”), Limburgish raengere, rääne (“to rain”), Low German regen (“to rain”), Luxembourgish reenen (“to rain”), Yiddish רעגענען (regenen, “to rain”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål regne (“to rain”), Faroese, Swedish regna (“to rain”), Icelandic rigna (“to rain”), Norwegian Nynorsk regna, regne (“to rain”).