rainforest
RAYN-for-ihst
Rainforest (noun) means a dense, tall forest that grows in a consistently warm, wet climate with no real dry season. Example: “The Amazon rainforest is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife.”
noun
1
A dense, tall forest that grows in a consistently warm, wet climate with no real dry season.
"The Sentinelese hunt in the rainforest and fish in the coastal waters using spears, bows and arrows, as well as homemade narrow outrigger canoes, according to Survival International."
— Lex Harvey and Esha Mitra, US tourist arrested after allegedly attempting to contact ‘world’s most isolated’ tribe (2025)
"Some researchers worry that rainforests will soon reach a tipping point — a point of no return in which the once-lush forests transition to arid regions."
— Sam Romano, Rainforests are under siege. Here’s what you should know (2021)
"Enjoy your visit to the rainforests, because the next time you go there things could be very different."
— Nick Hunter, Rainforests (2014)
"The Amazon rainforest is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife."
"Loggers have cleared large sections of tropical rainforest for farmland."
How to use rainforest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thick, green forest in a very wet, warm climate, like the Amazon.
Common pairings
tropical rainforest
rainforest canopy
deforestation of the rainforest
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Word forms
- Plural
- rainforests
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The Amazon _____ is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife.
Etymology
A direct translation of the German Regenwald ("rain forest"), built from "rain" and "forest".
Synonyms
View more →
rain forest
jungle
Related words
Rhymes for rainforest
See all rhymes for rainforest →Frequently asked questions
What does “rainforest” mean?
The word “rainforest” means a dense, tall forest that grows in a consistently warm, wet climate with no real dry season. In plain terms, a thick, green forest in a very wet, warm climate, like the Amazon.
How do you pronounce “rainforest”?
“Rainforest” is pronounced RAYN-for-ihst (/ˈɹeɪn.fɔɹ.ɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “rainforest” in a sentence?
Here is “rainforest” used in a sentence: “The Amazon rainforest is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife.”
What part of speech is “rainforest”?
“Rainforest” is a noun.
Where does the word “rainforest” come from?
The word “rainforest” comes from German. A direct translation of the German Regenwald ("rain forest"), built from "rain" and "forest".
Is “rainforest” a common word?
“Rainforest” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
