rain
RAYN
Rain (noun) means Water falling from clouds in drops. Example: “We got soaked walking home in the rain.”
noun
1
Water falling from clouds in drops.
"We got soaked walking home in the rain."
"Heavy rain flooded several streets downtown."
"The rain on the roof made it easy to fall asleep last night."
verb
1
Of the weather, to have rain falling.
"It started to rain just as the match kicked off."
"It rains a lot in this part of the country, so bring an umbrella."
"If it rains tomorrow, we will hold the picnic indoors."
2
To fall or arrive in large quantities, as if raining.
"Compliments rained down on the young violinist after her performance."
"Emails rained into her inbox as soon as the news was published."
"Confetti rained down on the happy couple as they left the church."
How to use rain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWater falling from the sky — or, more broadly, anything falling or arriving in large amounts.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "reign" (to rule) or "rein" (a strap for a horse) — all three sound identical.
Common pairings
pouring rain
rain heavily
rain check
rain down on
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Word forms
- Plural
- rains
- Third person singular
- rains
- Past tense
- rained
- Archaic forms
- rainest, rainedst, raineth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We got soaked walking home in the _____.
Etymology
From Old English regn, an ancient Germanic word shared with German Regen and Dutch regen.
Related words
Rhymes for rain
See all rhymes for rain →Frequently asked questions
What does “rain” mean?
The word “rain” means water falling from clouds in drops. In plain terms, water falling from the sky — or, more broadly, anything falling or arriving in large amounts.
How do you pronounce “rain”?
“Rain” is pronounced RAYN (/ˈɹeɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “rain” in a sentence?
Here is “rain” used in a sentence: “We got soaked walking home in the rain.”
What part of speech is “rain”?
Depending on how it is used, “rain” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rain” come from?
The word “rain” comes from Old English. From Old English regn, an ancient Germanic word shared with German Regen and Dutch regen.
Is “rain” a common word?
“Rain” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “rain” have?
“Rain” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: water falling from clouds in drops.
What is the difference between rain, reign, and rein?
These three sound alike but mean entirely different things. Rain is water falling from clouds in drops. Reign is the period during which a king or queen rules. Rein is a strap used to control a horse, and appears in the phrase 'rein in,' meaning to hold back or restrain.
What is the difference between 'rain' and 'reign'?
Rain is water falling from the sky as drops — the weather. Reign refers to a monarch's rule, or how long it lasts, as in 'the queen's reign.' They are homophones, sounding identical, so spelling and meaning are the only way to tell them apart in writing.
What are the different types of rain?
Everyday terms describe rain by its intensity: drizzle is fine, light rain; showers are short, scattered bursts; and a downpour or cloudburst is heavy, intense rain. Meteorologists also classify rain by how it forms, such as convectional, frontal, and relief (or orographic) rain.
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