precipitation

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsi-pə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce precipitation (audio)
Synonyms of precipitation
1
: the quality or state of being precipitate : hastiness
2
: an act, process, or instance of precipitating
especially : the process of forming a precipitate
3
: something precipitated: such as
a
: a deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow
also : the quantity of water deposited
b
: precipitate sense 1

Synonyms of precipitation

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of precipitation in a Sentence

The weather forecast calls for some sort of frozen precipitation tomorrow—either snow or sleet. a 50 percent chance of precipitation Minerals are separated from the seawater by precipitation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Great news for runners who lace up at the first sign of precipitation! — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 As of now, the chances of precipitation are extremely low. — Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 28 June 2026 Their concerns are heightened by the fact that the region is heading into peak fire season after four months with minimal precipitation. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 By May, almost every corner of the state had accumulated a precipitation shortfall of at least a foot since the fall of 2025, when the drought began. — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for precipitation

Word History

First Known Use

1502, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of precipitation was in 1502

Phrases Containing precipitation

Rhymes for precipitation

See All Rhymes for precipitation

Browse Nearby Words

precipitateness
precipitation
precipitation hardening
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Precipitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitation. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

precipitation

noun
pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce precipitation (audio)
1
: unwise haste
2
: the process of precipitating or of forming a precipitate
3
: water or the amount of water that falls to the earth as hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow

Medical Definition

precipitation

noun
pre·​cip·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌsip-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce precipitation (audio)
1
a
: the process of forming a precipitate from a solution
b
: the process of precipitating or removing solid or liquid particles from a smoke or gas by electrical means
2
: precipitate

More from Merriam-Webster on precipitation

Nglish: Translation of precipitation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about precipitation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All