What is downpour? Pronunciation and usage in English

downpour means . Learn how to pronounce and use downpour through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of downpour

downpournoun

/ˈdaʊnpɔː/
Definition & pronunciation of downpour

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "downpour" in English. Here's a breakdown with phonetic guidance:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

  • dah-n-PORE

Let's break it down syllable by syllable:

  • Down: Pronounced like "dah" (as in "father")
  • Pour: Pronounced like "n-PORE" – the "n" is a very brief, almost swallowed sound. The "ore" part sounds like "more" but with a slightly harder "r" sound.

Here's a more detailed phonetic breakdown (using the International Phonetic Alphabet - IPA, which is helpful for accurate pronunciation):

/daʊnˈpɔːr/

  • daʊn: (Sounds like “dawn”) – D as in “dog”, ow as in “how”, n as in “no”
  • ˈpɔːr: (This is the stressed syllable - emphasis) – p as in “pen”, aw as in “law”, r as a slightly trilled "r" (a quick, subtle vibration of the tongue against the roof of your mouth – don’t overdo it!)

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The emphasis is on the second syllable, “PORE.”
  • “N” sound: The “n” in “down” is very short and quick. Don’t linger on it.
  • “R” sound: The "r" in "pour" is a slightly rolled "r". If you can’t roll your “r” perfectly, a standard "r" sound is okay.

Resources for Hearing it:

  • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce downpour" on Google. It will usually have a sound clip.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/downpour/ – This website has pronunciations from native speakers.

Would you like me to:

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Usage and examples with the word downpour in English

Let's break down how to use the word "downpour" effectively in English.

What does "downpour" mean?

A "downpour" is a very heavy, sudden rainstorm. It's more intense and forceful than a simple rain shower. Think of it as a deluge – a large amount of water falling rapidly.

Here's how to use it in sentences, with examples:

1. Describing the Weather:

  • Simple Description: "We were enjoying a picnic when suddenly a downpour started."
  • More Vivid: “A torrential downpour soaked us to the bone within minutes.”
  • Focusing on Intensity: “The downpour was so heavy that the streets began to flood.”
  • Adding Detail: “After a sunny morning, a fierce downpour rolled in from the west.”

2. Figurative Use (Less Common, but Possible):

While primarily used for rain, you could occasionally use "downpour" metaphorically to describe a sudden, overwhelming surge of something – though it's less common than its literal meaning.

  • “A downpour of emails flooded my inbox.” (Meaning: A large, sudden number of emails)
  • “The news reports were a downpour of tragic events.” (Meaning: A flood of upsetting news) Use this sparingly - it’s a more dramatic and somewhat unusual construction.

3. Key Considerations & Tips:

  • Strong Verbs: “Downpour” works best when paired with strong verbs that convey the force of the rain. Words like "soaked," "flooded," “pounded,” “erupted,” “lashed,” and “descended” sound great.
  • Sensory Detail: Adding sensory details helps the reader feel the rainstorm. Think about:
    • Sound: “The downpour drummed against the windows.” “The downpour roared.”
    • Sight: “The downpour created a blurry gray landscape.” “Sheets of rain fell in a downpour.”
    • Feel: "We huddled under the awning, sheltering from the relentless downpour."
  • Contrast: "Downpour" is most effective when contrasted with a previous state of pleasant weather. "After a beautiful day, a downpour completely ruined our plans."

Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

  • Torrential rain
  • Deluge
  • Downpour
  • Shower (though “shower” is generally a milder rain)
  • Rainstorm

Resources for Further Examples:

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  • Explain how it compares to other words like "shower" or "rain"?

Synonyms for the word downpour

Practice with vocabulary downpour

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The sudden ________ disrupted the outdoor conference, forcing attendees to seek shelter indoors.
  2. After weeks of drought, the unexpected ________ was a welcome relief, although it caused some minor street flooding.
  3. Despite the brief morning ________, the ground quickly dried, making the afternoon soccer match possible.
  4. The meteorologist warned that various forms of ________, including snow and freezing rain, were expected over the mountains.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following describes a sudden, very heavy rainfall? a) Drizzle b) Mist c) Downpour d) Shower
  2. The unexpected extreme weather condition caused significant disruption to public transport services. Which word best describes this heavy rain event? a) Downpour b) Gale c) Blizzard d) Hailstorm
  3. The city's drainage system struggled to cope with the sheer volume of water from the sudden, intense rainfall. Which term accurately describes such a heavy, short-duration event? a) Downpour b) Monsoon c) Light rain d) Persistent rain
  4. Which term refers to very light, fine rain that barely wets the ground? a) Downpour b) Cloudburst c) Drizzle d) Deluge
  5. What might be a severe consequence of extremely heavy rainfall in an urban area? a) Drought b) Flash flood c) Heatwave d) Frost

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The very heavy rain prevented us from starting the outdoor construction work on schedule. Rewrite the sentence to include "downpour" or a related word form:
  2. We had to cancel the flight due to the unexpected, intense rainfall over the airport. Rewrite the sentence to include "downpour" or a related word form:
  3. The continuous heavy rain caused the river to overflow its banks. Rewrite the sentence using a suitable replacement word, but do not use "downpour" or any of its word forms:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. downpour
  2. downpour
  3. showers
  4. precipitation

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) Downpour
  2. a) Downpour
  3. a) Downpour
  4. c) Drizzle
  5. b) Flash flood

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The sudden downpour prevented us from starting the outdoor construction work on schedule.
  2. Due to an unexpected downpour over the airport, we had to cancel the flight.
  3. The torrential rain caused the river to overflow its banks.

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