# raining

/ˈɹeɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/raining
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. weather

verb · CEFR A1

when water falls from the clouds in small drops.

For teachers: the occurrence of water falling from the atmosphere in drops. Used with the dummy subject 'it'.

- It was raining so hard that we decided to stay inside and watch a movie.
- It has been raining steadily since dawn, causing the river levels to rise and threatening the low-lying farmland with potential flooding.

Usage: Almost always used with the impersonal 'it' as the subject.

### 2. falling objects

verb · CEFR B2

falling in large numbers, like rain.

For teachers: falling or descending in large quantities, mimicking the action of precipitation.

- Confetti was raining down on the players as they celebrated their big win.
- Arrows were raining down upon the advancing infantry, forcing them to raise their shields and halt their progress across the open field.

### 3. a period of rain

noun · CEFR B1

a period of time when rain falls.

For teachers: an instance or duration of rainfall.

- After a heavy raining, the garden looked green and fresh.
- The sudden raining caught the hikers by surprise, leaving them drenched before they could reach the safety of the mountain hut.

## Examples

- It is raining outside so take an umbrella.
- We had to cancel the picnic because it started raining heavily just as we arrived at the park.
- While the forecast predicted clear skies, it began raining steadily by noon, soaking the dry earth and providing much-needed relief to the local farmers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.