Rainfall
/ˈreɪnfɔːl/
Definitions
The quantity of rain falling within a given time and area.
/ˈreɪnfɔːl/
The amount of rain that falls in a specific area and time.
The rainfall in the Amazon rainforest is incredibly high.
💡 Simply: Rainfall is like a shower of rain! It's how much rain comes down in a place. For example, if you see a lot of puddles, that means there was a lot of rainfall!
👶 For kids: How much rain falls from the sky.
More Examples
The farmers were worried about the lack of rainfall this summer.
We measured the total rainfall for the month.
How It's Used
"Meteorologists track rainfall to predict potential floods and droughts."
"Farmers depend on adequate rainfall for crop production."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From Middle English *reynfalle*, equivalent to rain + fall. Cognate with Dutch regenval, German Regenfall.
Used since the late 14th century, initially as a descriptive term referring to the act or instance of rain falling.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant measuring cup for rain – rainfall is how much it fills up.
Word Origin
"rain (water falling from the sky) + fall (the act of falling)"