precipitation
gb/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/ us/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 8100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
rain, snow, and similar water
Water that falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Usage pattern:
precipitation falls on [place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat "precipitation" as countable (e.g., *"many precipitations") or confuse it with "participation" because they sound similar. "Precipitation" in this weather sense is usually uncountable and refers to rain, snow, etc., not to taking part in something.
Synonyms
rainfall (Refers only to rain, not to snow, sleet, or hail, and is slightly more common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
drought (Describes a long period with very little or no precipitation.)
Collocations
heavy precipitation
|light precipitation
|frozen precipitation
|winter precipitation
|precipitation forecast
|chance of precipitation
Themes
weather
|environment
|science
|nature
Examples
- The forecast is calling for heavy precipitation across the region tonight.
- Most of the year’s precipitation here falls as snow rather than rain.
- Freezing rain is one of the most dangerous types of precipitation for drivers.
- This desert receives very little precipitation, even in winter.
- The mountains create a barrier that increases precipitation on the western side.
Learner examples
- We may get some precipitation this afternoon.
- In this city, most precipitation comes in the spring.
- The weather app shows no precipitation for the next three days.
- Snow is a type of precipitation.
- Plants need regular precipitation to grow well.
Noun
B2
quantity
2
amount of rain or snow
The amount of rain or snow that falls in a place during a certain time, usually shown in millimeters or inches.
Usage pattern:
the [period] precipitation in [place] is [amount]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "rain" instead of "precipitation" in scientific or geographic contexts where snow and other forms are also included, or they may not realize that this sense focuses on the measured amount, not just the event itself.
Synonyms
rainfall (Often used for measured amounts in reports (e.g., "annual rainfall"), but technically refers only to rain, not snow or hail.)
Antonyms
dryness (Describes conditions with little or no precipitation over a period.)
Collocations
annual precipitation
|average precipitation
|total precipitation
|low precipitation
|high precipitation
|seasonal precipitation
Themes
weather
|geography
|science
Examples
- The city’s average annual precipitation is just over 600 millimeters.
- Climate change is expected to increase winter precipitation in this region.
- Farmers are worried because this year’s precipitation has been far below normal.
- The map shows how precipitation varies across the country.
- Tropical forests receive high levels of precipitation throughout the year.
Learner examples
- This area has very low annual precipitation.
- The average precipitation in June is 80 millimeters.
- Scientists measured the precipitation over the last ten years.
- We moved to a place with higher precipitation for our farm.
- Graphs of precipitation help us understand the climate.
Noun
technical
C1
event
3
solid forming from a solution
In chemistry, when a solid forms in a liquid because of a reaction or change, or the solid that appears.
Usage pattern:
precipitation of [substance] from [solution]
Common mistake:
Learners often think "precipitation" only means rain or snow and may not realize it has a separate, technical meaning in chemistry. They may also confuse the noun "precipitation" with the verb "to precipitate" and use the wrong form in sentences.
Synonyms
crystallization (Similar, but usually refers specifically to the formation of crystals, while precipitation can produce non-crystalline solids as well.)
Antonyms
dissolution (Describes a solid going into solution, the opposite direction of precipitation.)
Collocations
precipitation reaction
|protein precipitation
|salt precipitation
|precipitation process
|precipitation of minerals
Themes
science
|chemistry
Examples
- The sudden precipitation of solids indicated that the reaction was complete.
- Cooling the solution caused the precipitation of fine copper crystals.
- In water treatment, precipitation is used to remove heavy metals from wastewater.
- The cloudy appearance came from the precipitation of calcium carbonate.
- Adjusting the pH can control the precipitation of different ions.
Learner examples
- In this experiment, we watch the precipitation of a white solid.
- Heating the liquid stops the precipitation of crystals.
- Precipitation happens when the solution cannot hold more of the substance.
- The brown solid is the precipitation from the reaction.
- They used precipitation to clean the dirty water in the lab.
Noun
formal
C2
property
4
great haste or rashness
Doing something very fast and without enough thinking.
Usage pattern:
to act with precipitation
Common mistake:
Learners may misinterpret this formal sense as the weather meaning if they have not seen it before. It is rare in modern speech and mostly found in formal or literary writing, so learners should rely on more common words like "haste" or "rush" in everyday use.
Synonyms
haste (More common and general; "precipitation" sounds more formal and often suggests poor judgment.)
Antonyms
deliberation (Emphasizes careful, unhurried thought, the opposite of acting with precipitation.)
Collocations
act with precipitation
|speak with precipitation
|avoid precipitation
|without precipitation
Themes
behavior
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The decision was made with such precipitation that key risks were overlooked.
- He later regretted the precipitation with which he resigned from his post.
- In matters of public policy, precipitation can lead to serious unintended consequences.
Learner examples
- He spoke with precipitation and later felt sorry.
- We should not act with precipitation in this important case.
- Her precipitation caused many small but costly mistakes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
precipitation
IPA
GB/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
US/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
pre - cip - it - a - tion (5 syllables)
Stress on 4th syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: precipitation
- Plural: precipitation, precipitations
Word family
Forms
precipitations
noun
Core family
precipitate
verb C1
Related words
precipitous
adjective
precipitously
adverb
Expressions
chance of precipitation
1/t͡ʃˈæns əv pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
likelihood of rain or snow
How likely it is that rain, snow, or other precipitation will fall in a place during a certain time.
Examples
- The forecast shows a 60 percent chance of precipitation this evening.
- There is only a slight chance of precipitation tomorrow, so the game should go ahead.
- With no chance of precipitation in the forecast, the organizers decided to hold the concert outdoors.