downpour
DOWN-por
/ˈdaʊnpɔːr/
A heavy and sudden fall of rain.
Emphasizes the intensity and sudden volume of rainfall rather than wind or structural storm dynamics.
The story behind the word. Formed straightforwardly in 18th-century English by combining 'down' and 'pour' to describe rain pouring down heavily from clouds.
Word relationships
- cloudburst: Cloudburst implies an exceptionally sudden, localized deluge of extreme intensity.
- drizzle: Drizzle is light, fine rain.
Commonly confused with
- deluge: Deluge carries a more dramatic or biblical connotation of overwhelming water volume.
Collocations
- sudden downpour
- torrential downpour
- heavy downpour
Example sentences
- "An unexpected afternoon downpour soaked pedestrians who had left their umbrellas at home." Daily weather narrative
Memory hook
Rain literally POURS DOWN during a downpour. Sudden heavy rain.
When not to use
Do not use for light drizzle or steady moderate precipitation.
Fun facts
- A heavy downpour can drop several inches of water per hour, overloading urban drainage systems quickly.
Explore more words
rainforest, submerge, avalanche, precipitation, upheaval, intermittent
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