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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

rainstorm

RAYNS-tawm

Rainstorm (noun) means a storm consisting mainly of heavy, often sudden rainfall. Example: “A rainstorm forced the outdoor concert to be cancelled.”

noun
1
A storm consisting mainly of heavy, often sudden rainfall.
"A rainstorm forced the outdoor concert to be cancelled."
"They got caught in a rainstorm halfway through the hike."

How to use rainstorm

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA storm with heavy rain, without necessarily involving strong wind or thunder.

Common pairings
caught in a rainstorm sudden rainstorm violent rainstorm

Word forms

rainstorms plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ forced the outdoor concert to be cancelled.

Etymology

From "rain" + "storm" — a storm whose main feature is heavy rain.

Rhymes for rainstorm

See all rhymes for rainstorm →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rainstorm” mean?

The word “rainstorm” means a storm consisting mainly of heavy, often sudden rainfall. In plain terms, a storm with heavy rain, without necessarily involving strong wind or thunder.

How do you pronounce “rainstorm”?

“Rainstorm” is pronounced RAYNS-tawm (/ˈɹeɪnstɔɹm/ in IPA).

How do you use “rainstorm” in a sentence?

Here is “rainstorm” used in a sentence: “A rainstorm forced the outdoor concert to be cancelled.”

What part of speech is “rainstorm”?

“Rainstorm” is a noun.

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