Phrase guide

rain down

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To fall from the sky as, or like, rain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • I'm soaking wet because it rained down on me.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To let fall as, or like, rain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • In the latest supernatural incident, the sky rained down frogs.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To strike (literally or figuratively) many times and/or very intensely.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Qualifier: with on or upon

Examples

  • My wrath will rain down upon you.
  • The jeers rained down on me throughout my middle school years.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To appear suddenly or inexplicably in large numbers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

precipitate as rain

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • If it rains much more, we can expect some flooding

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rain

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: precipitate, come down, fall

Narrower terms: drizzle, mizzle, shower, shower down, sprinkle, spit, spatter, patter, pitter-patter, pour, pelt, stream, rain cats and dogs, rain buckets

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Japanese: 雨下する (uka suru) — to fall from the sky, as rain