downpour
B2Neutral to slightly formal; common in both spoken and written English.
Definition
Meaning
A heavy, sudden fall of rain.
Any sudden, heavy outpouring or influx, often used metaphorically.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies intensity and suddenness. Often used with verbs like 'start', 'break', 'turn into'. Not typically used for light or steady rain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the word identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations of heavy, sudden rain.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: weather/It] + [Verb: be/start/break into] + [Determiner] + downpourWe got caught in a + downpourVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A real downpour”
- “Come down in a downpour”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Possible in travel/tourism contexts: 'The conference was disrupted by a sudden downpour.'
Academic
Used in geography, meteorology, or descriptive writing.
Everyday
Very common in weather reports and casual conversation about weather.
Technical
Used in meteorology to describe a specific intensity of precipitation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It absolutely downpoured all afternoon.
- It's been downpouring on and off.
American English
- It downpoured right after we left.
- It started downpouring during the game.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard usage)
American English
- (Not standard usage)
adjective
British English
- We had downpour conditions on the motorway.
- (Rarely used as adjective)
American English
- The downpour rain flooded the streets.
- (Rarely used as adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We ran home because of the downpour.
- The downpour made the street wet.
- A sudden downpour caught us without umbrellas.
- The picnic was cancelled due to a heavy downpour.
- The forecast warned of torrential downpours across the region.
- After a brief but intense downpour, the sun came out again.
- The summer downpour, while disruptive, was a welcome relief from the heatwave.
- His speech was met with a downpour of criticism from the press.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of rain POURing DOWN heavily.
Conceptual Metaphor
RAIN IS A LIQUID FORCE (cascading, pouring).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'низкая лейка' or 'ливень' for every context. 'Downpour' is specifically heavy and sudden, not just any rain.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'downpour' for light rain. Incorrect: 'There was a light downpour.' Correct: 'There was a light shower.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'downpour' in the context of weather?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically for other things that fall heavily and suddenly (e.g., a downpour of emails, criticism).
A 'downpour' is much heavier and more intense. A 'shower' can be light or brief, while a 'downpour' implies a large volume of water falling quickly.
Yes, informally (e.g., 'It's downpouring'). However, the noun form is far more common and standard.
It is neutral. It is appropriate for both casual conversation and more formal writing, such as news reports or descriptive prose.
Collections
Part of a collection
Weather
A2 · 45 words · Describing the weather, climate and seasons.