I was planning on going to the beach today, but then it started to rain.
Source: tatoeba (1863)
Rain
/ɹeɪn/
Synonyms for "rain" (204 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (41)
Strong matches (61)
drinking waterdrizzledropdrop downdrop offdrowndrumduckdunkeauextendexuberatefallfall downfall offflarefloatfloodflowflow on
Show 39 more words
flurryfork outfringe areaghostgiftgift withgivegive freelygive outgo downgo downhillgrantgranulationgravitategridground watergushhand outhard shadowhard waterheadheapheavy waterhelp tohydrolhydrometeorhydrosphereimageimpartinundateissuejupiter pluviuslavishlet havelimewaterlose altitudemetemete outmineral water
Noun(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
icelandic regn
Related words (102)
mistmizzlemoisturemultiple imagenoiseofferoutpouringoverflowparachutepatterpeltpicturepicture noisepicture shiftspitchpitter patterpitter-patterplummetplungepounce
Show 67 more words
pourpour downpour onpour with rainprecipitateprecipitationpresentprofferproliferaterain tadpolesraindroprainfallrainstormrainwaterrenderrollingrunrun oversalt waterscanning patternscintillationsea waterserveshadingshell outshowershower downslipsluicesnowsnowstormsoft waterspatespatterspitsplatterspring watersprinklesquallsteamstoopstormstreamsubmergeswampswarm withswooptattooteemteem withtenderthortorrenttrend downwardtricklevolleyvouchsafewaterwater vaporweepwell waterwetwetting agentwetting-out agentwhelmyieldzeus
Adjective(1 words)
norwegian regn
Noun(10 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: rainfall, abound, accord, administer, afford.
- Sentence evidence is available for rain, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "rain".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "rain"
Keep "rain" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "rain" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "rain", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "rain" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entrieschronological sequencechronological successioncome downdownfallfallfresh waterfreshwaterprecipitateprecipitationprecipitation measuresequencesuccessionsuccessivenessweather phenomenonweather statistic
More specific
7 entriesCollocations
9 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
21 total sentences available.
Never lose sight of the importance of a beautiful sunrise, or watching your kids sleep, or the smell of rain. It's often the small things that really matter in life.
Source: tatoeba (2280)
Judging from the look of the sky, it may rain at any moment.
Source: tatoeba (18145)
Judging from the look of the sky, it may rain this afternoon.
Source: tatoeba (18148)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "rain"?
Closest matches include rainfall, abound, accord, administer, afford.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "rain"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.