Downpour: Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：torrential rain (Downpour)

Downpour 🔊

/ˈdaʊn.pɔːr/

A very heavy and sudden rain, like water being poured down from the sky.

torrential rain 🔊

➕

/təˈrɛnʃəl reɪn/

A sudden, very heavy fall of rain, often lasting a short time.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'down' (downward) + 'pour' (to flow), literally 'a pouring down'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a giant bucket of water being poured down from the sky—that's a downpour.

📖 Example

We were halfway through the hike when a sudden downpour forced us to run for shelter under a big tree. 🔊 We were halfway through the hike when a sudden downpour forced us to run for shelter under a big tree.

🔗 Collocations

a sudden downpour – a heavy rainfall that begins without warning

tropical downpour – a heavy rainstorm typical in tropical regions

be caught in a downpour – to be outside when a heavy rain suddenly starts

🔄 Synonyms

cloudburst (n.) – a sudden, very heavy rain that often lasts only a short time

deluge (n.) – a severe flood or heavy downpour

torrential rain (n.) – extremely heavy rain

🚫 Antonyms

drizzle (n.) – light rain with very fine drops

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'downpour' combines 'down' and 'pour', first recorded in the 1500s. It describes a sudden, heavy rainfall, often used in weather reports and literature to emphasize intensity and abruptness.