rainy
RAY-nee
Rainy (adj) means marked by a lot of rain; wet with frequent showers. Example: “London is famous for its grey, rainy weather.”
adj
1
Marked by a lot of rain; wet with frequent showers.
"It's a very rainy day, so let's stay indoors."
"London is famous for its grey, rainy weather."
"We stayed in and played board games on the rainy afternoon."
"Due to the rainy weather, we decided not to play in the park."
"It was a rainy week, so the garden looked green and the paths were muddy."
How to use rainy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes weather, a day, or a season with a lot of rain.
Common mistake
"A rainy day" is also used idiomatically for a future time of need, as in "save money for a rainy day" — this doesn't literally refer to weather.
Common pairings
a rainy day
rainy season
rainy weather
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Word forms
- Comparative
- rainier
- Superlative
- rainiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
London is famous for its grey, _____ weather.
Etymology
From Old English regniġ, simply "rain" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rainy
See all rhymes for rainy →Frequently asked questions
What does “rainy” mean?
The word “rainy” means marked by a lot of rain; wet with frequent showers. In plain terms, describes weather, a day, or a season with a lot of rain.
How do you pronounce “rainy”?
“Rainy” is pronounced RAY-nee (/ˈɹeɪni/ in IPA).
How do you use “rainy” in a sentence?
Here is “rainy” used in a sentence: “London is famous for its grey, rainy weather.”
What part of speech is “rainy”?
“Rainy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rainy” come from?
The word “rainy” comes from Old English. From Old English regniġ, simply "rain" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y".
Is “rainy” a common word?
“Rainy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between rainy and wet?
Rainy specifically describes weather or a period marked by a lot of rain and frequent showers, while wet is broader and can describe anything damp or soaked regardless of the cause. A day can be wet from other sources, such as dew or flooding, without being rainy.
What is a rainy season?
A rainy season is a recurring period within the year when a region experiences frequent showers and higher-than-usual rainfall, common in tropical and subtropical climates.
