What does rainy mean?
Rainy means marked by rain, especially when there is frequent or heavy precipitation. It is used for individual days, periods of time, seasons, and general weather conditions: a rainy morning, a rainy season, or rainy weather. In everyday British and American English, the word is straightforward and commonly describes unpleasant, inconvenient weather, though it does not necessarily suggest severe storms. Rainy also has a familiar figurative use in phrases such as a rainy day, meaning an unlucky or disappointing outcome. This extension is especially common when discussing plans, finances, or expectations: a cancelled trip or a failed investment can be described as a rainy day. As a simple adjective formed from rain, rainy combines readily with ordinary time periods and weather terms while retaining a slightly conversational tone.
Characterized by or marked by rain.
"The rainy weather made the roads slippery."
Common in both British and American English.
Figuratively, marked by difficulty, disappointment, or lack of good fortune.
"It was a rainy day for the business after several months of declining sales."
Usually encountered in the idiomatic expression rainy day.
A rainy day can be a gloomy inconvenience—or the perfect excuse to stay indoors and read.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rainy come from?
Rainy is an English adjective formed from the noun rain by adding the suffix -y, meaning “full of” or “characterized by.” Rain itself comes from Old English regn, a Germanic word inherited through Middle English. The word belongs to a wider family of English forms connected with rain, including rainfall, rainstorm, and rainbow. The suffix-based formation in rainy is typical of English adjectives describing abundant or characteristic qualities.
Related word forms
How rainy is actually used
Rainy is common in everyday British and American English. Its figurative use, especially in the expression rainy day, conveys adversity or a less fortunate outcome.
Easily confused with rainy
Rainy is an adjective describing weather or a period marked by rain, while rained is the past-tense and past-participle form of the verb rain.